Welcoming Others

Have you ever felt “at home” in a place that wasn’t your home? Maybe you get that feeling in a church, coffee shop, or at a friend’s house. Or you might feel at home with a family member or friend.

All of us feel “at home” when we feel safe to be ourselves— not worried about doing or saying the wrong thing because we feel loved and accepted as we are.

We all want a place to feel “at home.” Jesus knows this, and that’s why He made people feel at home everywhere He went. He did this by taking time to welcome people into His life, listening, showing empathy, and giving them permission to be honest. We call this hospitality.

In Luke 8, we find a list of people who followed Jesus during His ministry. These were the people Jesus welcomed into His life. They were flawed people, but Jesus’ hospitality turned these different individuals into a kind of family.

… The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. Luke 8:1-3 NIV

These people couldn’t have been more different. The Twelve were from different social classes and came from different backgrounds. They would have had countless opportunities to disagree. But Jesus welcomed each of them, just as they were, into His family.

Then there’s Mary Magdalene, a woman Jesus freed from spiritual oppression. Despite her rough background, Jesus welcomed her into His inner circle.

Finally, let’s talk about Joanna. She was the wife of King Herod’s household manager. King Herod was no friend of Jesus. In Matthew 14, Herod ordered the execution of Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist. But Jesus welcomed Joanna to be a part of His ministry.

Hospitality breaks down social barriers and builds unlikely friendships. Hospitality invites us to be less critical and more curious. It helps people realize their God-given value and potential. It builds empathy and turns strangers into neighbors.

Pause to consider:

How do we show hospitality? You can start by thinking about a time someone made you feel seen, cared for, and included. How did their hospitality change you? Then, consider how you might create the same feeling and impact for someone else by partnering with God to become hospitable.