Love Invites

"Always be eager to practice hospitality" (Romans 12:13b, NLT)

Don't you just love to have people in your home to eat and fellowship? And don't you love to be invited to go to someone's house for food and fellowship? I do. I love to see how different people decorate their homes, their likes, their taste, their collections, and their dust! Yes, I said dust. Don't it make you feel better when you go somewhere and they still have a little dust on their shelves too. Maybe they didn't pick up all of the what nots to dust under them. It just makes you feel a little more at ease, that they live in their house too. It is not just a house but a home.

Some people really have the gift of hospitality. They are the Martha Stewarts in our world. But the good news is you don't have to be a Martha Stewart to make someone feel special in your home. You don't have to be a great cook, you don't have to have the best furniture, the most beautiful home, the best china, or anything like we think we have to have. All most people need is a simple cup of coffee or a glass of tea and your time.

When we invite people into our homes we are telling them that we want to love and serve them by sharing what we have. It may not be much but it's okay. I heard one lady who invited people to go home with her from church each Sunday and all she would have was a pot of beans and cornbread, but the way she opened her heart and home to them made all the difference.

Don't let the devil make you feel so inadequate that you never invite someone to your home. Open the doors of your home and when you do you open the doors of your heart. You might want to clean up a little bit and dust a little, but don't stress yourself to where you can't enjoy their company.

You remember Martha was very hospitable in the Bible. She had Jesus in her home quite often. But she lost sight of the most important part of being hospitable. She got so caught up with the cooking, preparing, cleaning, etc. that it made her mad at Mary and she took it out on Jesus. When Jesus simply wanted to spend time with them, fellowshipping. That is all most people want today is a little bit of your time. Mary chose that which could not be taken away from her, the Words of Christ. The people who come into your home may or may not remember what you serve them to eat, but they will always remember the love and fellowship they shared with you.

My challenge to you today is to invite someone (not the same friends as always) but someone new to your life and home. Make them feel welcomed and honored. Focus on them and not yourself. Learn about them and love them. It is a command from God and if we love Christ as we say we do, our love will invite.