4 Minute Read + Scripture readings

Today’s Bible Reading:

1 Samuel 14
Romans 12
Jeremiah 51
Psalms 30

Today’s Bible Verse(s):

Romans 12:13 (CSB) “Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.”

Reflections on Today’s Bible Verse(s):

In the years to come, when people ask what we thought about 2020, we’re going to struggle with where to begin. This year has been crazy. But, one of the things that I miss is the fellowship time we have enjoyed with our church family.

As I looked over an article that I wrote about hospitality last year when pastoring my previous church, I thought I would simply re-post it. It illustrates the verse that I have chosen for today.

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My reflections this morning are more personal in nature than what I normally write about. I hope you don’t mind.

When we moved to Murray, Kentucky in the summer of 2013, we prayed for a miracle. Our house in Brooksville, Florida had lost about half of its value in the housing bust. We emptied out our savings account as we continued to make our house payments, praying that God would intervene.

Long story short, the bank holding our loan graciously did a “deed in lieu” of foreclosure. They forgave us the remaining balance (tens of thousands of dollars!), and Uncle Sam did not hold us responsible for that remaining balance (capital gains) when tax time rolled around.

After those two events transpired, we were praising God! For a long time!

At the time, we were in a rental home that never felt like our own. We had great landlords but the home just wasn’t a good fit for us. So, we began to pray that God would allow us to purchase our own home so that, among other things, we could have a place where we could show hospitality.

We looked at many homes but none of them felt right … until I stepped into the house located at 1606 Sycamore Street. As we walked through the front door into the living room, I saw the large room and immediately could imagine having church folks and college students over to that place. We ‘low-balled’ the seller, she met us half-way, and we purchased the house for well under appraisal.

In that home, we showed hospitality to so many people! We invited church members over for evening meals. We regularly had Murray State students coming to visit, just to have a safe, family-oriented place where they could enjoy family time as they were away from their own families.

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Friend, showing hospitality can be so rewarding. You bless others but are also blessed in return. Make the most of relationships, as best you can, in this crazy year. But, let’s hope and pray that we can get back to enjoying much more hospitality in the years to come.

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Lord Jesus, over and over, I realize that obeying Your Word is in my best interest. As You tell me to be hospitable, I realize that it also satisfies a longing for relationship within me. So, help me to see that Your commands are good. Help me to readily comply with Your desires for me. Amen.

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