Authors Pat Ennis and Lisa Tatlock, in their wonderful book Practicing Hospitality, surveyed the Scriptures and created a word collage of what a person of character who desires to practice hospitality might look like. Here’s their summary version:

H – Humble

Humility is the opposite of self-sufficiency and is a necessary prerequisite if I am going to be of service to my heavenly Father. I can exercise humility by choosing to step out of my comfort zone and invite individual into my home with whom I may not be totally at ease, or those who may have unrealistic expectations about the event.

O – Obedient

The primary evidence that individuals are Christians is their choice to obey all of their Father’s command. I demonstrate obedience by obeying all of my Father’s commands that focus on hospitality.

S – Sincere

Genuine, as well as absence of deceit or hypocrisy, describes sincere actions. I will “stay on my knees” until I can extend sincere invitations.

P – Prayerful

Prayer – that is, communicating with my heavenly Father – shows my desire for His direction about and dependence on Him for the event. I resolve to pray about all aspects of the events that I play.

I – Interested in Integrity

Integrity is choosing to dow hat is right when given a choice between right and wrong, even when it is unpopular. I will choose to adhere to my heavenly Father’s standards, regardless of what the mainstream of society is doing.

T – Trustworthy

A trustworthy home provides an ambience of trust and confidence. I will study Elizabeth’s life in Luke 1:39-56 as a model for my life.

A – Adopted into God’s Family

Adoption is choosing to legally integrate an individual into one’s home and nurturing that individual as one’s very own child. I will choose, through the strength of the Holy Spirit, to behave in a way that reflects my royal heritage, so that my guests will observe a bit of “heaven on earth” in my home.

L – Led by the Spirit

Walking in the Spirit literally mens keeping in step with the Holy Spirit. I will propose to walk tin the Spirit so I will not carry out the desire of my flesh (Galatians 5:16).

I – Instrumental in Producing Righteousness

An instrument of righteousness brings “every through captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5) and refuses to fret or worry about anything (Philippians 4:6-8). I must control what I think about and purpose to be spiritually renewed by humble presenting my concerns to my loving heavenly Father – even when the hospitality event appears to be beyond my capabilities.

T – Thankful

Being thankful is an act of the will that generates the giving of thanks to God – regardless of the circumstances. I choose t learn to be content regardless of my circumstances. (Philippians 2:11).

Y – Yielded

We are to possess a willingness to yield to our heavenly Father’s specific instructions in relation to practicing hospitality. I demonstrate my love to Him by choosing to embrace His instructions with my whole heart – and that is when my joy is complete (1 John 1:4; 2 John 12).

With the summary of the word collage above, you can create your own personal version. Click here to download the image below. Use it to personalize your own ideas in developing a character of hospitality.

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I hope you have been intrigued enough by the information above to pick up a copy of Practicing Hospitality and explore the many other useful tools the authors have created.