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Scripture: 1 Peter 4:9

Thoughts

How do you reach out with welcome to people you already know? How do you show kindness to strangers? Hospitality is one of the hallmarks of Christianity. Here, Peter writes about practicing hospitality without grumbling about it. I imagine he wrote this because he had seen people spoil hospitality by grumbling. And think of Mary and Martha on the day Jesus came to visit (Luke 10:38-40). Who showed true hospitality? Was it Mary who sat at Jesus’ feet? Or was it Martha who was busy doing things for him? One way to answer this is to look at their attitudes. 

Some may argue that if everyone were a Mary, we would all starve! But clearly, the point of Peter’s instruction is the heart behind our hospitality. If a loving heart is behind your hospitality, it’s authentic and pleases the Lord. Mary modeled relational hospitality. Martha would have modeled physical hospitality, if she had not complained, by meeting the group’s need for nourishment. 

Application

Some of us tend to be relationally hospitable while others are comfortable showing physical hospitality. Which is more natural for you? I like to cook for people and make sure everyone is taken care of, while my wife, Tanya, enjoys relational hospitality. She will sit and listen to someone for hours. Do you ever grumble about hospitality, either the kind that you aren’t gifted in or the kind that comes more naturally to you? Do you ever show relational hospitality to a stranger? Do you feed or care for fellow believers’ practical needs?

Prayer

Lord, I admit that I grumble sometimes about serving others. Please change my heart, and help me to practice both relational and physical hospitality with love and cheerfulness…. Continue praying.