Sunday's One Another Commands
Be Hospitable to Each Other
1 Peter 4:9
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,
as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
~ Apostle Peter
Pondering Point
Today's one another command is to be hospitable.
As you consider this, keep in mind that while not everyone has the gift of hospitality, we do all have the basic expectation of being hospitable – even treating others as if they are Jesus in the flesh before us (Matthew 25:40).
Jesus and Peter and Paul (Romans 12:13) all call for Christians to practice hospitality.
Now as you do so, you don’t have to “keep up with the Joneses.” (In America, this phrase means: keeping up with the material posessions of your neighbors.)
You don’t give based on what you don't have, but on what you do have. And if you need something that you don’t already have but think is needed, just ask God. He’s like the neighbor who has everything you need. (check out Luke 11:1-13)
Luke 11:1-13
Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer
1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“‘Father,[a]
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.[b]
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.[c]
And lead us not into temptation.[d]’”
5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity[e] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[f] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Footnotes:
[a] Luke 11:2 Some manuscripts Our Father in heaven
[b] Luke 11:2 Some manuscripts come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
[c] Luke 11:4 Greek everyone who is indebted to us
[d] Luke 11:4 Some manuscripts temptation, but deliver us from the evil one
[e] Luke 11:8 Or yet to preserve his good name
[f] Luke 11:11 Some manuscripts for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for
Prayer Prompt
Father God, help us to see the resources at our disposal as Yours rather than ours – for Your work and Your kingdom amongst Your people for their benefit as well as our own. When we lack what is needed to help, remind us to ask You to provide, which you have promised to do. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.