The Lost Art of Hospitality

Romans 12:13b says, “pursue hospitality”. 
How do we create Christian community? We pursue others, we move toward them. 
I think the experience of Christian community is rare today. We have lost this pursuit in our day. I think we are far too busy and self-preoccupied on our own concerns and agendas to see others. And seeing others (really seeing, slowing down, looking, caring) is the first step in creating a Christian community, in caring for one another. We see that with Jesus over and over again – He first looks (He sees people), then feels compassion, and then moves toward them and helps. 
In today’s Church people are regularly not seen. People are invisible for the most part. Even in our own church, I have had people tell me that they can be among a crowd of people and feel so alone, no one sees them or acknowledges them. Isn’t that heartbreaking?
Perhaps we fail to see people because we’ve become too cynical – we tend to view people with suspicion. Perhaps we are quick to be opinionated and assume things of others by what we see. Perhaps we are too quick to look for faults. Or maybe we are just too weary to even think of trying to be hospitable to someone we don’t know.
It is an epidemic in the Church today – people are lonely and people are rarely invited to someone’s home, or to a meal, or for coffee to get together. It does happen, I see it, but it’s rare. But what a gift it is when it happens! 
God says that love is patient, and love is kind. These are traits that come from the Spirit at work in His people. The ability to slow down and look up and see another. May He grow us all in these qualities! When I think about what Jesus said (John 13:34-35), “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” I wonder… what would that look like for us today, at Summit Ridge? 
An attitude of hospitality, of seeing others and moving toward them… that is my prayer. I think God wants to honor that, don’t you? 
If you would like to go a little deeper, I was greatly encouraged by reading this article this week on hospitality… and last summer I read this book that I was impacted by. Let me encourage you to read these yourself. 
Here is a prayer from David Powlison for us:
“Oh Father, give us a vision for a life that is fruitful and flourishing and, by your grace, sheds some light in a dark world, does good to other people, and lives purposefully and with reconciliation, kindness, repentance, humility, faith, joy, and gratitude as grace plays more and more of a part in who we are. We confess, Lord, that we get really stuck. We get into some ruts, we get blind and stubborn, and we beseech you that in your great, patient mercy that we would learn to treat others the way you treat us. Keep working with us, contending with us. Teach us to contend with ourselves in the right way. We thank you, most of all, that one day, all manner of thing will be well. In Christ’s name, Amen.”
 
Held By His Abundant Grace,
 
Pastor John
 
PS: Next Sunday, June 16th, I will be making an announcement about a change/addition we are making to our Sunday morning services in the Fall. I hope you can join us for that update.