Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Hospitality a Divine Virtue
Genesis 18:1-15
"Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them,
he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the
ground." (Genesis 18:2)
 In the Bible, hospitality is a sure sign of Christian living. It is recorded as a quality of church leaders (1 Tim. 3:2) and is a requirement for every believer as an expression of love (Rom. 12:13; 1 Peter 4:9). But its meaning goes deeper than being a gracious host or opening our homes to guests. The Greek word for hospitality means love of strangers. When Paul speaks of being "given to hospitality" (Rom. 12:13), he is calling us to pursue relationships with people who are in need. This can be stated as something that is a lot easier said than done.
Abraham entertained three men who came to tell him that he would soon have a son (Gen. 18:1-16). Two of the men were angels, and one was the Angel of the Lord. It is said that Abraham was regarded as outstanding for his hospitality as well as for his other virtues; a true son of Abraham must be hospitable too.
God calls believers to show their love and gratefulness for Him in their good works of hospitality and compassion. Whether we are at home, at college dorm, at work, or with friends, we can welcome others as a way of showing our love for them and for Christ. Hospitality is making room for people in need.
There are many ways we can apply this to our daily lives. As Christians we are called to be Lighted to Lighten. Many of us are active in organizations within the church and we should strive to show the community that we care about them. Neighborhood missions are a great way to show hospitality to the
community and shine the love of Christ in this land we have been called to serve.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, help me to be more hospitable in all areas of my life.
Humble me in the areas which I am lacking and provide me more opportunities to show love for all. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

If there is a place in the heart for a stranger there will be place in the home.

Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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