Essential Spiritual PracticesSample

Hospitality

Do you have friends or family members who just feel safe? Or can you think of a time when you were welcomed into somebody’s home and felt at ease? Maybe there was a moment when you were in an unfamiliar environment, and someone walked up to you and introduced themselves to you. Suddenly, that unfamiliar environment felt a little bit safer.

All of these moments are examples of hospitality at work. Hospitality is a spiritual practice where you create a safe place for people to be seen and valued. It’s not an exclusive right that’s given to your friends and family—it’s also extended to your neighbors and strangers.

When you practice hospitality, you welcome and love others the same way that Jesus has welcomed and loved you.

The early church modeled this spiritual practice in Acts 2:

They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47 NLT

Hospitality can be done in homes and personal settings, but it’s also a posture of your heart. When you have a heart focused on hospitality, you’re more aware of the needs of those around you. You might recognize a new face at church and go out of your way to meet that person, or start a conversation with a coworker you don’t know well if you notice they’re having a hard time.

The simple act of reaching out to someone can open the door for the Holy Spirit to move. God can use your hospitality to the reach His people through your grace, kindness, and compassion for others.

Challenge: Think of a time when you felt truly welcomed in a new or unfamiliar place. What made you feel welcomed, and how could you use that experience to welcome people around you?