1 Peter 4:9: Show Hospitality To One Another Without Grumbling.

1 Peter 4:9

[9] Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. (ESV)

How often do you have someone in your home that is not part of your immediate family? In the home I grew up in, my father, a pastor, had many different people in our home to have dinner, fellowship, and conversation. They were mostly from the church where my father pastored. However, if someone was in need, my dad would invite the people in, and show them hospitality.

In our culture today, we tend to be a bit resistant to the idea of bringing someone in to our home. We are not likely to have people from our church into our home. There is almost no chance that we would allow a stranger into our home. The Apostle Peter instructs us to show hospitality to one another. This means that we are to have a more open door policy than we likely do, currently.

The writer of Hebrews also instructs us to show hospitality. The reason might surprise you. Hebrews 13:2 says, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." Have you ever considered that the person whom you would offer your home to might very well be an angel? Imagine that if we refuse to show hospitality we are turning away angels. Fascinating.

As believers in Jesus Christ we are all connected to one another. There should be no problem opening our home to a brother in Christ. Perhaps they need a shoulder to cry on. Maybe they need to talk about the Bible. It could be that they need a temporary place to stay. Remember that everything that you own belongs to the Lord. He wants it to be available to others. That's hospitality.

Do you think you may have entertained an angel? What are some ways that you have opened your door to others? What are some struggles you have with hospitality? How can you be hospitable more, and grumble less?