Open Doors
“2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2
My wife and I took a big step in our lives over the holiday season. We decided to answer our church’s call for couples to volunteer their homes to host “connect groups.”From January to May, we will open the door of our home twice a month to receive other married couples from our church who live in our area and are seeking fellowship and community. This was a big step for us as we are both, by nature, introverts. Furthermore, our home to us is a sacred space, a physical, emotional, and spiritual stronghold. It’s our quirky little castle where we are our raw and authentic selves.
We took this step and made this commitment because we committed early in our marriage to serve God, however called. We made this decision because we understand that the Lord is not only calling us to open the doors of our home to others but also asking us to open our hearts. We took this step because, honestly, it is scary and will require us to grow.
Hebrews 13:2 states, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing, some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” In the book of Genesis, we find a beautiful example of hospitality from the patriarch of our faith, Abraham, and his wife, Sarah.
18 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord,[a] do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”
“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs[b] of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”
7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.
So what can we learn from Abraham and the Bedouin culture of the time?
1. Anticipation
Good hospitality involves anticipating opportunities to serve others and being willing and prepared to do so. In verses 1-2, we find Abraham sitting and waiting at the entrance of his tent. Historians will tell you that in the Bedouin culture of the region during the time of Abraham, it was customary to have one entrance of the tent open, signifying all guests were welcome.
2. Humility
Once Abraham spots the travelers, he not only goes out to meet them, he hurries out to greet them and bows low to the ground out of respect. What is interesting about this action is that Abraham was, at the time, an older man of stature within the society. Nonetheless, he humbled himself before his guests, offering his home, time, and resources. (Verses 3-5)
3. Sacrifice
Abraham and Sarah both take part in selecting and preparing the food for their honoured guests. In verses 6-8, Abraham and Sarah select their finest flour to bake bread and their finest calf to be prepared and set before them. In verse 8, Abraham stands near them as they eat. Though it is not explicitly stated, I suspect Abraham is satisfied with providing exquisite hospitality to his guests.
Ephesians 6:7 states, “Serve wholeheartedly as if you were serving the Lord, not people.”
As you prepare for the coming week, I encourage you to open the door to your heart, anticipating any opportunity to serve others humbly. It can be a simple act of kindness, compassion, or sacrifice of time and effort. Take joy in the experience and be satisfied knowing that though you may or may not be serving angels, others will experience the love of Christ through your actions.
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Prayer
Dear Lord, please open the door to our hearts for opportunities to serve you by humbly providing our best hospitality to others. As we serve others, may they come to know you and receive the depth of your love.
Amen,
