Welcome

READ: ROMANS 12:13; HEBREWS 13:2; 1 PETER 4:7-10 Did you know that all Christians are called to some sort of ministry? You don’t have to be a pastor or missionary to have a ministry—the fact is, God commands all Christians to minister to others. The word ministry basically means service. And in Galatians 5:13, all Christians are instructed to “serve one another humbly in love” just as Jesus served us. What does this service, or ministry, look like? Well, God gives each of us spiritual gifts to use to serve others in various ways, and yet there are a number of ways every Christian is called to serve (1 Peter 4:9-10). And one ministry that all Christians are encouraged to participate in is hospitality. Hospitality is welcoming others and treating them in a warm, friendly way. Often that involves being willing to share our home and meals with guests. Hospitality is just one of the ways we show people God’s love, but it’s an important way—because hospitality reveals the heart of the gospel. Think about it. Jesus warmly welcomes each of us into His family. God calls us to Himself, gives us a home with Him, and shares all He has with us. That’s why it’s important for us as Christians to be welcoming toward others. As 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.” Some people welcome traveling missionaries or international students—or even complete strangers—into their homes. As a teenager, you probably don’t have a home of your own to offer others. But you could talk to your family about ways you could extend hospitality to people who need it. And maybe you can offer hospitality to your friends by inviting them over, offering them a meal or a snack, and making them feel safe and welcomed. Or maybe you could invite someone new to sit with you at lunch or in church. As you go about your daily life, be on the lookout for ways you could make others feel included and valued. And if your family opens up your home to others, you can take part in showing hospitality. When you help prepare meals, wash extra dishes, or give up your room in order to welcome guests, you can show them the love of Jesus. Because He warmly welcomes us into His family and shares all He has with us, we have the opportunity to show others what a kind and hospitable host He is by treating them the same way. • A. W. Smith • Can you remember a time when someone extended hospitality to you? What was that like? • How does Jesus’s love for us enable us to extend hospitality to others? Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9 (NIV)