[Faith-talk] FW: [thefamilyoffaith] Open your heart and home - Senior Living Ministries

[Eric Calhoun]

Original Message: 
From: "TONY - Family of Faith" <familyoffaith at tampabay.rr.com>
To: <thefamilyoffaith at yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [thefamilyoffaith] Open your heart and home - Senior Living
Ministries
Date: 
Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:16:51 -0400



           
             
              Hospitality is the practice of welcoming, sheltering,
providing for, and feeding those who come into your home--with no
expectations for rewards or personal gain in return.

                  
                 
                         
                        Share with God's people who are in need. Practice
hospitality.
                        --Romans 12:13 
                       
                 
                 
                 
            Hospitality is much more than exotic menus, elegant table
settings and decorations, and fancy entertainment. It is sharing what you
have and who you are in Jesus with the people God brings your way.

            For those in Bible times, hospitality was a necessity in the
harsh desert regions. It was openly rewarded when extended fully and openly
punished when there was a lack thereof.

            In the New Testament, Jesus modeled hospitality perfectly. He
met both the physical and emotional needs of those who came to Him (Matthew
15:32-39).

            New Testament writers encouraged believers to practice
hospitality toward other Christians saying, "Offering hospitality to one
another without grumbling" (1 Peter 4:9). And elders and deacons within the
church, in particular, were to extend hospitality (1 Timothy 3:2).

            However, there are some exceptions. Believers are encouraged
not to show hospitality to: false teachers (2 John 1:10-11) or those who
receive hospitality but do not work to support themselves and assist the
host family (2 Thessalonians 3:10-13).

            As believers, we are called to extend this gift to all who
are in need. You can open up your heart and life, and minister to others in
simple ways: time, food (see Psalm 104:27), money (Matthew 25:34-40),
energy, creativity, and love (1 John 4:11).

            If you extend your hospitality, open your home, and share
your heart with someone else, your efforts will not go unnoticed (Hebrews
6:10). Allow your warm welcome to be saturated with the love of Christ, so
you can easily share Him with those who enter your presence.

            Prayer Challenge
            Ask God to show you ways you can practice hospitality toward
those who are in need.
             
           
             
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