Hospitality Defined: Practical Love in Service to GodSample

Hospitality Defined

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship. (v. 42)

While we may not hear much these days about hospitality, we certainly hear about “entertaining.” Home magazines and make-over shows emphasize all the things that will impress your guests when you entertain: big, bright spaces, unique recipes, and fabulous food. The whole emphasis seems to be—how can we show off our good taste and lifestyle to impress family and friends?

Hospitality is not entertaining, showing off, or impressing people; it’s about welcoming others into our homes and lives. Hospitality is a practical way to demonstrate love to others in service to God, whether by simply providing a meal or opening your home to someone in need.

Acts 2 gives us a picture of how the early church practiced hospitality. After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, the believers “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship” (v. 42). They were in each other’s homes, praying together and sharing meals. They gave generously to help any brother or sister in need with “glad and generous hearts” (v. 46). Even those outside of the church approved as the new church found “favor with all the people” (v. 47).

As we’ll see in the coming days, hospitality is a Christian virtue and is expected from God’s people. It provides for the needy, brings fellowship to the lonely, and equips God’s people for service. In its own way, it anticipates the joys of heaven here on earth. What a privilege it is to show hospitality!

As you pray, ask God to give you a heart for hospitality.