OUR DAILY BREAD : PURSUING HOSPITALITY

[cimi]

September 27
Monday


PURSUING
HOSPITALITY

READ:
Romans 12:3-12
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In the New Testament, hospitality is a hallmark of christian living. It is listed as a characteristic of church leaders (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:8) and is commanded for every follower of Jesus 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 translated "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. It is not an easy talk.

Writer Henri Nouwen likens it to reaching out to those we meet on our way through life--people who may be estranged from their culture, country, friends, family, or even from God. Nouwen writes: "Hospitality, therefore, means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place."

Whether we inhabit a home, a college dorm, a prison cell, or a military barracks, we can welcome others as a way of showing our love for them and for Christ. Hospitality is making room for people in need.
__David McCasland
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`````````````````````Reaching out to needy people,```````````````
````````````````````Showing them our love and care,``````````````
````````````````````Is one way that God can use us```````````````
``````````````````To bring hope to their despair. __Sper```````````
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Hospitality can fill the emptiness of a lonely heart.

***************Today's Bible Reading __ Romans 12:3-13**********

3 For I say, through the
grace given to me, to
everyone who is among
you, not to think of himself
more highly than he ought
to think, but to think
soberly, as God has dealt to
each one a measure of faith.

4 For as we have many
members in one body, but
all the members do not have
the same function, 5 so we,
being many, are one body
in Christ, and individually
members of one another.
6 Having then gifts differing
according to the grace that
is given to us, let us use
them: if prophecy, let us
prophesy in proportion to
to our faith; 7 or ministry, let
us use it in our ministering;
he who teaches, in teaching;

8 he who exhorts, in
exhortation; he who gives,
with liberality; he who
leads, with diligence; he
who shows mercy, with
cheerfulness.

Let love be without
hypocrisy. Abhor what is
evil. Cling to what is good.

10 Be kindly affectionate to
one another with brotherly
love, in honor giving
preference to one another;

11 not lagging in diligence,
fervent in spirit, serving the
Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope,
patient in tribulation,
continuing steadfastly in
prayer; 13 distributing to the
needs of the saints, given to
hospitality.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In the Bible passages where spiritual gifts are listed (Rom. 12:6-8;
1 Cor. 12:4-11, 28-31; Eph. 4:11-12; 1 Pet. 4:10-11), the emphasis is
not only on the types of gifts but also on the manNer in which these
gifts are to be used (1 Cor. 12:12-27; 13:1-13; Eph. 4:12-16; 1 Peter
4:8-10). they are to be used in humility (Rom. 12:3), in faith (v.3),
in unity (vv.4-5), in love and sincerity (v.9), and in respect (v.10).
__SIM KAY TEE