Biblical Hospitality
Genesis 18:1-15 and Hebrews 13:1-3
Contributed by Nancy Buschart
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. 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. —Genesis 18:1-2
“You’re welcome here!” This is the bottom-line message of hospitality.
But, what does it look like to be hospitable? Certainly, it is opening our doors and setting our tables to receive and serve our friends and the strangers among us. It is being gracious to those who look and think differently. It is practicing civil discourse when there is contentious disagreement. And, hospitality is even more.
The radical hospitality of Christmas is God’s idea and God’s initiation. From the Old Testament to the New, God’s people are, like Simeon, longing, praying, and “waiting for the consolation of Israel” (Lk 2:25). In essence, their prayers are saying, “Lord God, you’re welcome here… We will joyfully receive you when you come.”
In Genesis 18, Abraham saw the strangers “standing nearby” and was eager to welcome them and to show generous hospitality—water to wash, a meal to nourish, a place to rest from their journey. Abraham also recognized that this encounter was more than an opportunity to extend refreshment to passing strangers. The strangers themselves were the means of Abraham’s refreshing. Abraham needed both the gift of the strangers’ coming and he needed what the strangers came to give.
The twist to the story of hospitality that we so often rehearse is that the guest we receive actually brings hospitality with them as they enter our doors. This type of hospitality permeates the Christmas story. The angel Gabriel brings God’s message of life and hope to Zechariah and Elizabeth, to Joseph, to the shepherds. Greatest of all, God’s gift of Messiah comes to Mary. This Messiah, Immanuel, “will save God’s people from their sins” (Mt 1:21).
At Christmas we remember that God comes practicing radical hospitality. Christmas begins not with sharing the season with our loved ones. Not with twinkling lights, festive decorations, or even end-of-year gifts to worthy ministries. He who created us, and all that is, has invited us into the salvation story and welcomed us into fellowship with Him, through Christ, by the Spirit. “O come to my heart, Lord Jesus. There is room in my heart for thee.”
Consider –
╬ Christmas is God’s gracious welcome extended to those who would come. He has sent the invitation and has prepared the table. He is eagerly awaiting a time of continual reconciliation and rejoicing with His people. In your life, how would hearing God’s gracious welcome refresh your soul?
╬ I have a friend who always meets her guests at the door. Even when meeting at a restaurant, she is up from the table to meet me when I arrive. Her intentional greeting always says to me, “You matter and you are welcome here.” This kind of hospitality can be extended in our every encounter. When have you experienced this gracious welcome? Tell the story of the circumstances and how it impacted you. Be watchful for opportunities to extend the same to others.
╬ Lord Jesus, we rejoice again as we remember your radical hospitality to a weary and sin-stained world. Striving to fulfill the law of what it means to be “good” is exhausting and leads us away from humble dependence upon you. By your Spirit, enable us to come. May we joyfully receive all you came to give us. In Christ Jesus. Amen.