Day 25... With Open Arms

Day 25.. With Open Arms

Bible verse:

"Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."  The second is this: "Love your neighbor as yourself." There is no commandment greater than these.  Mark 12:30-31

This was one of the very first Bible verses I attempted to remember.  I wrote it out and placed it on my computer screen at work so I could see it everyday.  Did I practice it everyday, no but after reading today's lesson I believe that God has worked this verse into my life and I practice more and more.  The second verse that I attempted to learn was the one about God being "slow to anger" but we'll talk about that one another day.

Today's lesson explains what hospitality is all about, what it should be all about and what it is not.  Hospitality is giving of oneself, of one's time, one's resources and not expecting anything in return.  It's not about keeping score, it's about sharing what we have in the presence of God.

Moore says, "The presence of Christ communes with the hearts of His followers when they get together."

I had never thought about how the act of hospitality creates a safe environment for others (Moore, 2007).  This is so true when you think about it.  For example when you ask friends over for a meal, you want them to feel comfortable, and at ease and the only way to do that is to act hospitable, and create a safe place for them to feel that way.  Very cool!

Also, the meaning of the hospitality was interesting in that it combines "friendliness to guests" and "house of healing".... Christian hospitality provides a welcoming place for people to come and heal (Moore, 2007).

I can see what Moore means when he talks about how this is so important in our small groups.  Reaching out to others in hospitality offers us another avenue to sense the presence of Christ as we minister in His name.

Remember:  Loving others as ourselves includes reaching out to them in Christian hospitality.

God Bless!