Monthly Archives: June 2017

THE LOST ART OF HOSPITALITY

“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” (Romans 12:13)

One of the best compliments I can ever receive is after someone has been to my home, they express appreciation for my hospitality.  Recently, I had a group of friends over for a dinner. I furnished a few items, but the other attendees also brought various side dishes to share. It worked out really well, and there was a lot of great food. Prior to the occasion, there had been a lot of discussion about whether we should meet at a restaurant or gather at a home. Then one of the friends made the statement that it is “more intimate” when we get together at someone’s home. She meant that it was more heartfelt and easier to have conversation in that setting than it would be at an eatery. In some ways, the practice of hospitality has grown to be a lost art. It has somehow become less bothersome to go out to a restaurant than invite people over, clean up the house, and cook for them. For me, it is pleasing to have others visit in my home. Even if it does require some effort of preparation, there is a feeling of fulfillment in being able to provide a place of comfort for others. God’s Word tells us: “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God” (Hebrews 13:16).

I recently heard the story of an employee at an entertainment venue where parents invite the friends of their children for birthday parties or other special occasions. One of the mothers complimented a young man who worked at the establishment on how hospitable he was with the guests.  He indicated that he was just doing his job while earning money for school, and he stated that he appreciated her comments because very few people ever said much to him. To encourage him, she said, “But just think, here you are being so gracious in this job you probably don’t like all that much. Can you imagine how well you are going to do if you apply the same enthusiasm someday to a job you really like?”  It made the young man’s day.  Contrast that with the attitude of an acquaintance of mine who invited a former coworker to stay with their family anytime she was passing through the area for her new traveling job. After she took them up on the offer twice within the same year, they complained that the former coworker had taken advantage of their generosity. I couldn’t help but remember the scriptural passage, “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling” (1 Peter 4:9).

Part of the challenge of hospitality is to extend your graciousness to strangers. Jesus stated it this way: “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (Luke 14:12-14). I am reminded of the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). While most of us concentrate on the example set by the passer-by to help someone who was in distress, we forget the lesson that we can also learn from the innkeeper who served as the host and caretaker after the Samaritan departed. While he was given a stipend to take care of the injured man – he took on the greatest responsibility, having no assurance whether he would ever be fully reimbursed (even though the Samaritan gave indications he would do so).

The Greek word “hospitality” is translated to mean “love of strangers.” In the Old Testament, the prophet Elisha was shown hospitality by a wealthy woman who provided food and lodging for him whenever he passed through (2 Kings 4:8-17). Jesus and His disciples depended entirely on the hospitality of others as they ministered from town to town. The essence of hospitality is showing kindness and compassion.  It is a symptom of the joy that is found within our heart and resides deep within one’s soul. When we realize that God constantly shows grace toward us, we also come to understand that receiving God’s generosity deteriorates and dies if He doesn’t flourish in our own hospitality to others. It’s an intimacy we can comprehend only when we truly recognize Him through the expression of our faith.

REFLECTION: Can you reflect on a time when a complete stranger displayed graciousness on your behalf? How can we maintain a constant attitude and practice of hospitality for others? Are there ways we might demonstrate a readiness to welcome people who aren’t ordinarily part of our lives?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., JULY 1, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

FAITH INSURANCE

“I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” (Matthew 17:20)

We crawl into our car to conduct one last visual check making sure we haven’t missed anything.  The tires have been checked, the oil has been changed, the navigation system has been loaded with each of the estimated destinations, and all of the emergency likelihoods have been anticipated.  Having done everything possible to assure a successful trip, we back out of the garage and begin to make our way toward a long-awaited getaway. We are as secure as we can possibly be, but we have no guarantee we will ever get there.  Maybe our trip is a costlier once-in-a-lifetime venture by plane to a far off-destination, or a cruise aboard a luxurious passenger ship offering amazing ports of call. As we finalize the details of our journey, we are given the opportunity to purchase travel insurance. We weigh the options like becoming ill, having a family emergency, or other possible reasons for cancellation, and we wonder if the extra cost is worth it. The truth is that most days the deliberate acts we take are based on the experience that we have done them before, and everything has been okay.  But when it comes to heading off for parts unknown – things are a little different for many of us. There’s a lot more to consider.

Our faith-walk is a lot like that as well. Jesus often spoke about how faith, or the lack of it, will directly affect our ability to be an effective follower. At Jesus’ prompting, His disciple Peter walked on water. “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” (Matthew 14:30). On another occasion, a man approached Jesus with his son who was afflicted with seizures, kneeling before Him saying: “I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him” (Matthew 17:16).  In both instances, He scolded them for their lack of faith. There were times, however, when He was amazed at the faith others showed. Once He was approached by a Roman soldier who was grieved by the suffering condition of his ailing servant. “Jesus said, ‘I will come and heal him.’ But the officer said, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed’” (Matthew 8:7-8). “When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who followed Him, ‘Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith’” (Matthew 8:10).

God’s Word is filled with stories of faith, frequently demonstrated by a surprising cast of characters. One of those is featured in the Old Testament story of Rahab, a prostitute woman in ancient Jericho who saved two spies who had been sent by Joshua to measure the defenses of the city. People had told her how God helped the Israelites during their journey to Canaan. She stated to the men: “For the LORD your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below” (Joshua 2:11).  Knowing that her city would be attacked and destroyed for its wickedness and idol worship, she protected the men and helped them escape with the promise that they would provide safe passage for her and her family, even if they slaughtered everyone else in Jericho.  When it was time – “The men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all the other relatives who were with her. They moved her whole family to a safe place near the camp of Israel” (Joshua 6:23). Rahab trusted God to save her, and she wanted to join His people. So God gifted these things to her, because of her faith. Having special significance for Christians, she is among four women listed in Matthew’s gospel as ancestors of Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 1:5-6).

We find in Rahab’s life the inspiring story of each of us who have failed through sin but been saved by grace. It’s not an insurance package that we can purchase, for Jesus has already paid our premium with His death. What an awesome gift when we comprehend that faith tough enough to withstand difficult times is not created by our feelings or even what we perceive with our physical senses. It must be based first and foremost on what we know about God. It’s an insurance package worth having and holding onto.

REFLECTION: As you look back over your life, can you see times that you were like Peter and sinking in the water for lack of faith? How do Rahab and the Roman soldier provide direction for your faith walk? Can you think of other Biblical or personal examples where faith insured a positive outcome?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., JUNE 24, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

ONE JOYFUL REUNION

“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the               clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”                           (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

At the age of five, a boy from India by the name of Saroo got separated from his older brother. Searching for his sibling, the young lad boarded a train, fell asleep, and traveled for days before he was able to get off. Now alone in the large city of Calcutta – he finds himself hungry, afraid and unable to speak the language. He ends up in a state-sponsored orphanage from where he is blessed to be adopted by an Australian couple. He grew up in Tasmania with nurturing parents and a somewhat troubled brother, who was also adopted.  As he progresses into his twenties, he is bothered by the fact that even many years later his family might still be wondering what happened to him. He embarks on an all-consuming journey to find his way back to them, with only a few vague memories of his past for assistance. Utilizing online digital mapping software, he eventually identifies his birthplace and travels back to find his biological mother and younger sister still living in the same village. There he has an emotional reunion, as he learns that his brother was killed on the same night in which they were separated decades before. His mother never gave up hope and believed that one day her missing son would return. The wonderful reunion story can be found in the non-fiction book A Long Way Home or viewed in the Oscar-nominated 2016 film Lion.

Not all reunions are quite so dramatic. A friend of mine told me about an experience she had at a retirement luncheon. The event was in conjunction with an anniversary celebration of the company for whom she had been employed.  While the gathering was very nice, there were a number of people who had been inadvertently omitted from the list of invitees. This evoked some emotional upset, ranging from hurt feelings to anger. While the employer made a good faith last-minute effort to correct the situation, there were those who felt slighted or assumed that they were intentionally missed. Maybe you have had a similar experience as part of a large family or high school reunion committee. You may remember that attempting to find those folks who have not been in the fold for a while can sometimes be difficult. Or you may have been one who was missed, knowing exactly how it felt to be excluded.

Perhaps the best reunion story ever told came from Jesus in the Parable of the Son found in Luke 15:11-32.  It is the well-known tale of a man with two sons, the younger of whom asks his father for his portion of the estate. Upon its receipt – he departed to another country, lived a wild life, and squandered his wealth. Finding himself poor and destitute in the midst of a famine, he “came to his senses” (v 17) realizing that returning home as a hired servant would be better than the circumstances in which he found himself. As he goes home he throws himself at the mercy of his father, surprised that he is greeted by a loving and compassionate parent. The reunion is a bit clouded when a jealous brother appears, discovering that the red carpet has been rolled out for his vanished brother. After being confronted with rage by the son who has been faithful, “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!'” (v 31, 32).

This reunion story reflects the amazing patience that God demonstrates for us. Even when we act selfishly, He indulges us. He yields out of the respect for the freedom He Has given us, desiring that we will learn our lesson and come back to Him. God’s children never have to experience permanent separation, if they repent their misdoings and obey His laws. When we do so, we realize that own place is secure and our heavenly reward is salvaged. One day you and I will participate in a great reunion with our friends and loved ones who shared a belief in Jesus, the Son of God. It was He who said that “just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions” (Matthew 7:20). We should, therefore, establish actions He would desire. For when it’s time for the reunion, we’ll assure our place on the list not forcing Him to say, “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23).

REFLECTION: Why is the concept of reunions so important to Christians?  How would you speak with a new believer who is concerned about reuniting with other loved ones in Christ?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., JUNE 17, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

 

OLD DOGS, RISING CREEKS AND FAULTY PLANS

“We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

I walk in a local park most weekdays with a close friend. Because we nearly always walk about the same time each day, we have gotten to know other folks who do likewise.  One older gentleman by the name of Harry maintains a regular presence with his dog.  We frequently engage in conversation with Harry who is in his late seventies. Sometimes we have wondered if Harry doesn’t become a bit too adventuresome for his age. This became apparent on one occasion when we observed him walking on the top of a barrier wall located between the walking path and a creek on the other side.  When we asked Harry if he wasn’t concerned about falling, he indicated that he had to follow where the dog decided to take him. When he disappeared from our routine some months afterward, we were anxious that he might be having health problems. Later when we did run into him, he told us that as he and his dog leave the house he allows the pet to direct their walk. If he heads for the car, they come to the park. Otherwise, the dog leads him on a different adventure through the neighborhood. I considered how many of us would tolerate our pet setting the agenda for the path we would follow that day. I’m sure I wouldn’t.

The month of June is one of those months when many plans are laid.  Families strategize about upcoming summer vacations. The weather forecast will often dictate whether one can pack lightly or if preparations for varying climate changes must be made. Depending on the ages of the persons who are going, the balance between relaxing and entertainment options must be taken into account for each participant. If the event being finalized happens to be our wedding, most likely confirming all the last-minute details are executed assures that the special day will come off without a hitch. Or if one happens to be sitting on a folding chair at an outdoor commencement, they just might be dreaming of making plans to change the world even before they receive that diploma or move their tassel from one side of the cap to the other. Plans can be exciting, but we can also find ourselves drowning in the concern for the many details.

While I haven’t been able to discover exactly who said it, I find that I can personally identify with the expression – “If the Lord is willing and creeks don’t rise.” I think we would all be better off if we subscribed to this old adage. It acknowledges the fact that we can plan all we want, but there is no guarantee that the path we lay out today will ever come to fruition tomorrow. James stated it this way in the New Testament: “Look here, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit’ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog–it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, ‘If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.’ Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil” (James 4:13-16).

While there is nothing incorrect and it is often necessary that we make preparations for our ensuing days – it is probably not a bad idea to sometimes pose the question, “So what’s my Plan B?” What if God takes hold of this idea I have, this relationship I have developed, or this recognition I have received and nudges me in a direction I have never even considered? What if the plan you have been formulating over time is not within His will for your life? Those who are seeking maturity in the faith come to realize that making plans without seeking God’s will is a little bit like a quarterback who finds himself in the middle of a game without a playbook. If you are making decisions based primarily on what makes you happy, then your priorities may very well be out of focus with what He desires for you. Then you are in danger of stumbling at every turn. While we don’t always realize it – God often calls us from a place of vulnerability at the most unexpected time. So be ready to “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established” (Proverbs 16:3).  After all, if we don’t consider God’s will as part of our planning – we may just  as well be following the whim of an old dog.

REFLECTION: How could you live your life in such a way that it would bring the most glory to God? Consider the challenge offered in Matthew 6:33: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”  How can you place His will first in your life?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., JUNE 10, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.