Daily Dwelling

The other day I was reading in Acts 16. This is where Timothy joins Paul and Silas in their missionary work and they meet a woman named Lydia from Thyatira. While Paul was teaching, it tells us that the Lord “opened her heart.” She received salvation and was immediately baptized and then she invited Paul and his team to her home. I found it so admirable that she felt compelled to share her home after experiencing the love and saving grace of God.

As I read this, I was reminded of true hospitality. For most of my life, I thought of hospitality as simply hosting or entertaining. I always assumed that true hospitality was defined through having perfectly set tables, antique dishes, candles throughout your home, and a house that seemed as if no one even lived in it. But being hospitable is much more than just physically hosting someone. Sure! That can be an aspect of hospitality, but I believe what matters more is the ability to host someone emotionally. Lydia understood this after being saved by God. She knew that God had accepted her fully in her brokenness and given her new life. In return, she wanted to receive others in that same way. True hospitality is about receiving others the way Jesus has received you.

I read a book by Henri Nouwen entitled Reaching Out several years ago and it discussed the importance of how easily hospitality can shift to hostility if we are not aware. He talks about how hostility is rooted in fear of the “other” or “stranger.” Hostility causes us to view people as enemies, objects, or threats, leading to isolation. It includes not only aggression but also lack of empathy, indifference, or passive unfriendliness. Hospitality is rooted in freedom that creates a safe, non-judgmental, and open space for others to exist without fear. It is not about trying to change people or make them conform, but rather offering them space to be themselves.

Knowing these truths, how are we inviting others into our presence in our workplace? At the grocery store? In our classrooms? Are we a free space for others or a fearful place?

We must be careful in allowing others into our space. If we have a difficult day that enables us to receive someone freely, do not host. If we are walking through our own trials and need to refrain from being the host to instead being “hosted” by our community, receive that as a gift from the Lord and release the pressure to keep hosting. Being hospitable is more than showing off your home, cooking skills or ability to plan and execute a gathering. True hospitality is about us being in the position to receive others fully, show them the love and truth of the gospel, and know when not to. True hospitality is not only shown to our family and friends, but to everyone made in the image of God.

What would it look like for you to extend hospitality to a stranger this week? How can we imitate Jesus in hosting that family member who we have a tense relationship with? Pray for God to teach you what true hospitality looks like and walk in obedience this week.