The Blessing of Hospitality

“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”
Romans 12:13-16

“Hospitality means primarily the creation of 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. It is not to bring men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines.”
-Henry J.M. Nouwen

One of our favorite ways of putting our faith into practice at Loon Mountain Ministry is through hospitality. As followers of Jesus, hospitality means making space in and outside of our homes not only for close friends and family, but also for the outsider, stranger, the non-believer and the skeptic. Jesus set the ultimate example of hospitality for us by giving up his home in heaven, so we could be brought home to our heavenly Father. He was treated like a stranger, so we could be made family. He was despised and rejected so that we could be loved and accepted and God's Spirit has made His home in us so that we might give others a home through His power and presence in us. I pray that you are encouraged and challenged to make space in your homes, schedules and budgets for the stranger, outsider and sojourner. By doing so you will be a living demonstration of God's love and the radical hospitality He has shown us in Jesus Christ.