A SIMPLE SOLUTION

Author Susan Moore Donaldson believes that hospitality began with God. She invites us to know Him personally, and once we do, He asks us to extend His invitation to His world.

However, some of us need “Hospitality 101.” It wasn’t modeled for us, we feel inadequate, and we don’t see its value. Or, we may feel that our “things” like our home or cooking or entertaining is not good enough for others.

While those may be real thoughts and fears, there is a way to work through any and all hesitations we might have.

We all need lessons from the “Ultimate Host” to help prompt us to welcome like He does.

When we understand God’s welcome to us, we can better pass it on to someone else.

Can you remember a time when you couldn’t wait for a special friend to arrive? You checked out the window and you checked your watch. The time moved too slowly. The house was ready, the food all set, excitement was in the air, and you couldn’t wait for the doorbell to ring.

You knew it was going to be great.

That’s God. He’s looking out the window. He can’t wait until you arrive. And when you do – when you figure out you were meant for Him – what better way to show His welcome than by opening up your home and heart to another?

Hospitality began with God. He came after you. His welcome was intentional. God created the world, and He invited you.

Once we come into God’s house, receive His hospitality, and become His very own, it’s great to know what He wants us to do. That direction isn’t always spelled out, but God’s Word gives specifics on how and why we are to express His welcome to others.

The good news is that God’s Word promises to give us all we need. Doing hospitality is one more way we discover the goodness and greatness of our God. It’s worth doing it for that alone.

Sue Moore Donaldson, Hospitality 101: Lessons from the Ultimate Host

A NEXT STEP

Author Susan Moore Donaldson provides the following ideas to see how God welcomes you:

First, read the following Scriptures:

• Genesis 1:1,2
• Psalm 23:5,6
• John 1:12
• John 3:16
• 1 John 4:10,19

What is your favorite part of God’s welcoming heart in the above Scriptures?

Next, read the following Scriptures:

• Romans 12:13
• 3 John: 5
• Philemon 4-7
• Hebrews 13:2

What kinds of people are we to welcome into our homes?

Finally, reflect on a time when your heart was encouraged or refreshed when you were a guest.

How can you extend that feeling to your guests?

Lead your team through the same exercise and collaborate together to create a list of practical ways to welcome as God has first welcomed us.