BE READY AT ALL TIMES

Hospitality At Its BEST (Philippians 2: 1-11) Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philipians 2:1-4) Hospitality, shows love and care for others.. Where the grace of God is displayed through our sharing of our life God has given us with others in the world around us, bith from our church family and those in our communities. This hospitality is a challenge for elievers because after all we are human, and we are selfish beings, but God says we should intertain strangers as well as those fellow believers around us. We are to welcome strangers, care for the vulnerable, and serve without expecting anything in return. The verses below that I want to share with you today, looks in that direction. Look at, Hebrews 13:2: "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Have you ever intertained a stranger and wondered about this fact? And "Leviticus 19:34: "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. If you have ever been a stranger in another land, I believe the way you are treated there would have a huge impact on whether you would ever return to that country again. Or even whether you would consider moving to that country. "Romans 12:13: says for us too, "Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. So then with in the body of Christ thre are those who are struggling and need help, the bible here tells us, if we have the where with all to help them, we are to do just that. It not only says we are to be hospitable, but we are to actually do it, to practice it, and to see how it feels to help someone else. I know that it feels good to be the hands and feet of Jesus and provide love and care when you meet someone elses needs. Peter 4:9 tells us we are to have an attitude of hospitality, listen: Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling or complaining, like it is something that is just a part of our lives, that God has given us to live. Romans 15:7: Encourages accepting others as Christ accepted us. So if we were to do this all the time, we would be practising hospitlity. Philippians 2:3-4: Tells me I am to be humble all the time and make plans and actually put others ahead of ourslves. Luke 14:12-14: This advise on being hospitable, is not to be carried out with those who can and will be hospitable basck to you. but rather it encourages us the be hospitable to those who cannot return the favour. Matthew 25:40, goes on to tells us, that when we serve the poor and the vulnerble, its the very same as if we were serving Christ Himself.Have a listen:""And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’" As I was growing up, I seen my parents being very hospitable, not only on Sunday but also through out the weak. It seemed like anyone was welcome at our table or in our house.. There was always room at the table for thosewho entered our home, whether it was a meal or just coffee time or inbetween time. But I especially remember Sundays, we very often envited someone out to our hose to go horseback riding, our hoses were always quiet enough that almost anyone could ride most of them. Most of the time we would have a big lunch together and then afterwards we woulfd go riding, or we would play ball, or have a big rousing game of Hide And Seek. There were some great memories connected to my parents hospitlity. I remember that some of those Sundays, mom prepared for, and someof them just happened when someone would just drop in for a visit, but you know that didn't matter, mom always had no problems whipping up a meal that anyone would be happy sharing with us. But it did require that they had to be intentional about being generos with what they had. The Israelites in Livitocus also followed a similar life style, as Moses had taught them Gods commands for them. They were to leave a portion of their feilds produce “for the poor and the foreigner” (Leviticus 19:10). Like,during harvest time, they were instructed not to reap to the edges of their field, leave what had fallen, and not re-harvest their vineyards (vv. 9-10). As they did this, they left those who were poor with some dignity, allowing them to be the bread winner for their families by gathering what had fallen to the ground. For the people of God, this shuld not be a one-time, spontaneous act, but even if it is, it can still be a huge blessing as one follows the leading of the Holy Spirit.But really as believers in Christ this should be a life style as it was with the Isrealites and as it was with my parents. Simply it was how they lived year after year. We must be intentional is this generousity and in being hospitable, because there are many opportunities all around us to show Jesus’ hospitable love to others in our box of influance. There are somethings we can prepare for, and others that we simlly will not have time to prepare because it just happens. But as God helps us, we beed to be considering always as to how we should treat others on a regular bases. With grace, love and kindness always. (v. 33). Father God, where are you calling me today to be hospitable and generous? What will my day look like today, help me be ready to show love and kindness to all who enter my home and to all who cross my path. Jesus, You have set the perfect example for me to follow in showing love and self-sacrifice, as I follow you. Please help me to do just that by being ready to show Your love to others and to walk in your foot prints. It is inyour name I pray AMEN