READING: Hebrews 13:2, Romans 12:13
I’m speaking to myself with this “practical discipleship” strategy more than to anyone else. I’m very much an introvert who likes his private space, and I enjoy our time at home when it’s just Pam and I there. On the other hand, I continue to learn the great value in hospitality when evangelizing or discipling others. Evangelistically, we might often find that non-believers who don’t want to attend church with us are happy to join us for dinner in our home or at a local restaurant. Somehow, there’s a comfort level around a meal that’s tough for non-believers to find in church.
Discipleship, too, often happens best when we invite our disciples into our home. It’s one thing for them to sit in a sterile office with us to discuss theology; it’s another matter completely when they see how we live out our theology in loving our spouse and raising our children. When others spend that kind of time with us, they even more clearly see the transforming power of the gospel lived out – and that can happen only when we open our homes with hospitality.
This week, I encourage you to be intentionally hospitable toward others, trusting that doing so will open a door to further conversations. As the writer of Hebrews said, “Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it” (Heb 13:2).
PRAYER: “Lord, direct me to the person, and help me to offer hospitality this week.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Psalms 97-102, 1 Corinthians 6:1-7:7
