Hospitality

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER OF PETER

HOSPITALITY

1 Peter 4:7-11

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

NIV

Now that we have settled the matter that because the end being near, although we are not sure how near is near, that we should be clear minded and self-controlled so we can pray and love deeply, we move on to the rest of these sharp statements. We are to offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. This is much different today than in the culture which existed for the first recipients of this letter. In those days it would have been common for them to offer their home to a traveler for several days, or to offer them a meal, and sit and talk for hours or perhaps days. We get a small picture of that type of hospitality from the account of the three persons who came to Abraham. Surely that was the Lord and two angels, but the point was that Abraham bid them sit and stay while a calf was slathered, cleaned, butchered and cooked, meanwhile, Sarah was to knit some flour into bread and bake it. He offered them water to wash their feet and while all the food was being prepared he offered them some curds and milk. This was not a quick microwaved pie and some coffee we might give some friends who we had to make an appointment on our calendars for some date to get together that we both were free. So how do we suppose this hospitality might work in our culture today, or because of how we live such a busy life, we just forget about being hospitable, because we just do not have the time or the inclination? Maybe we are just private people, not really that social to start with. Still, in our culture, we do not have travelers walking by in a land where we are the only tent for miles and miles. We do not even sit on our front porch that much to offer rest and refreshment to those that are either walking or runner past our home. We would rather sit in the solitude of our back deck, under our canopy, refreshing ourselves after a busy day. It might be possible that out of town friends from our past would like to visit and then offering them our home, food, but mostly our time would then seem like offering hospitality and to do so without grumbling. This takes time and effort, but mostly time which somehow seems more precious to us than anything else. Offering that kind of hospitality would mean having to set our own agendas aside, and do whatever we need to do in order to make our guests feel extremely welcome into our home. If we have no quest, then maybe we should be offering those passing by something to refresh their walk. Just a thought Again, not sure just how we make this hospitality matter work in our culture. Surely as far as the church as a whole, when a stranger appears, we welcome them to the service, but then again, how often do we immediately invite them to our home after church, or out for breakfast? How much hospitality is being hospitable? Just a thought to ponder on and maybe adjust our thinking.