Posted on 01/13/2016 9:14:40 AM PST by metmom
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it" (Hebrews 13:2).
Hospitality should be a trait of all Christians, because whenever we display it, we minister to the Lord.
If you are a Christian, your responsibility to love others does not stop with fellow believers. The apostle Paul is very explicit and direct about this: "See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men" (1 Thess. 5:15). "All men" includes even your enemies. The "strangers" mentioned in today's verse can refer to unbelievers as well as believers. The writer of Hebrews is saying we often won't know the full impact hospitality will have; therefore, we should always be alert and diligent because our actions may even influence someone toward salvation.
The last part of Hebrews 13:2, "some have entertained angels without knowing it," further underscores the point that we can never know how significant or helpful an act of hospitality might be. Abraham had no idea that two of the three men passing by his tent were angels and that the third was the Lord Himself, but he still went out of his way to demonstrate hospitality (Gen. 18:1-5). The primary motivation is still love, for the sake of those we help and for the glory of God.
The Lord Jesus says, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me" (Matt. 25:40). As Christians, when we feed the hungry, take in the stranger, clothe the naked, and visit someone in prison, we serve Christ. If we turn our backs on people, believers or unbelievers, who have real needs, it is the same as turning our backs on Him (v. 45). Loving hospitality is therefore more than an option-it is a command.
Suggestions for Prayer
Pray that God would give you a greater desire to show hospitality and that you could minister it to a specific person.
For Further Study
Read Genesis 18:1-15.
Write down the positive ways in which Abraham handled his opportunity to show love to strangers. How well did Sarah handle this situation? How does the example of her attitude relate to Hebrews 13:2?
Studying God’s Word ping
To fail to recognize that difference is to ignore a great part of what the Bible teaches, in a deliberate betrayal of your own heritage.
I know lack of hospitality is the sin of sodom and gamorrah. Or so its been told.
I suppose if you live in Midwestern farm country and folks need help it would be easier to help. If however you live in or near major slime cities, you risk your family’s and your life offering your hospitality to who knows who
Do unto others as YOU would HAVE them do unto YOU.
- These Jihadists are NOT doing that!! - Putting US in
the place where we have to FIGHT or die is not LOVE, nor is
it doing unto others as THEY would have us do unto them!!
Somehow, I don’t think that showing hospitality extends to welcoming an invading army.
I got a chuckle out of your tagline.
Good one.
No. Neither do I; not does anyone else with any common
sense. - Hillary is looking for votes; so is Obama.
THEY always *plan* on having armed bodyguards, unlike
most of us out here who are just relying on the
2nd Amendment & our own marksmanship. - The politicians
forget about the “protected classes” in all the many
“Utopias” of the past. (Hillary & Obama evidently aren’t
paying any attention to the many jihadist training camps
already located in the U.S.)
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