Tag Archives: hospitality

November 11
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“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”  (Hebrews 13:2, NIV)

A few years ago, during the funeral service for a dear friend and early mentor of mine, her former pastor commented on how my friend and her husband were models of hospitality.

“Hospitality is inviting someone to inhabit your space,” the pastor said.  I had not heard a more simple yet profound definition of that word before — or since.

The writer of the book of Hebrews reminds us to invite strangers to inhabit our space.  Our spaces are usually cultivated, comfortable, and secure.  Yet, the stranger often enjoys none of those benefits because he is often far, far from his own home.

It is through the practice of hospitality that we expose ourselves to the possibility of serving one of God’s angels; the possibility of making a new friend; and the certainty of being obedient to God.  – Luther

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November 12
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“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”  (Hebrews 13:2, NIV)

Years ago, during the funeral service for a dear friend and early mentor of mine, Yvonne Keefer; Yvonne’s former pastor commented on how Yvonne and her husband Jim were models of hospitality.

“Hospitality is inviting someone to inhabit your space,” the pastor said.  I had not heard a more simple yet profound definition of that word before — or since.

The writer of the book of Hebrews reminds us to invite strangers to inhabit our space.  Our spaces are usually cultivated, comfortable, and secure.  Yet, the stranger often enjoys none of those benefits because he is often far, far from his own home.

It is through the practice of hospitality that we expose ourselves to the possibility of serving one of God’s angels; the possibility of making a new friend; and the certainty of being obedient to God.  – Luther

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April 16
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“They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.” (Ruth 1:4-5, NIV)

It is hard to imagine a more dire situation than the one described in today’s scripture: Death, young widowhood, exile to a foreign land, and bleak economic prospects. This story of Naomi and her two daughters-in-law doesn’t end there, but it does begin in pain and uncertainty.

(There is more to this story, of course; and I encourage you to read the four short chapters that comprise the book of Ruth — which takes less time to read than many articles in the Sunday newspaper — for the rest of the story.)

Despite the dark outlook, Naomi, Ruth, Orpah, and others, persist in the practice of humility, hospitality, and honesty. Although they were not assured a positive outcome — none of us ever are — they are, nevertheless, confident of God.

We show our confidence (another word for “faith”) in our heavenly Father — as did Naomi and the others — by persisting in humility, hospitality, and honesty, particularly in hard times.  – Luther

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