The hospitality

"Support the needs of the saints; Apply yourself to hospitality." Romans 12. 13

 

The Gospel has made remarkable progress through hospitality and hospitality. Here are some examples :

- In Bethany, a village near Jerusalem, Martha generously opens her home to Jesus and her disciples (Luke 10:38). We discover Mary, the sister of Martha, sitting at the feet of the Lord. She listens to all that can come out of the lips of the Son of God. Later Mary threw herself at Jesus feet to speak to her of her brother Lazarus already in the tomb (John 11: 32) ; It is also on her feet that she will pour a perfume of pure nard and of great price "for the putting into the tomb" (John 12: 3), with this promise of the Lord : "Wherever this Gospel is preached in the The whole world, we shall also speak of what this woman has done in remembrance of her "(Mark 14: 7). It's done. The smell of this perfume is spreading to us today.

In Philippi, Lydie, a purple merchant, is so attentive to the message of Paul that the Gospel seizes her. She converted and offered hospitality to Paul and his companions, Silas, Timothy and Luke. This is where Paul and Silas will find the necessary comfort before leaving Philippi in the aftermath of severe persecutions (Acts 16:40). Lydia is the first person who converts to the Lord in Europe. A multitude of others followed, beginning with his "house" (family, servants and other addicts).

- The believers are not the only ones to advance the Gospel through the reception ! After a terrible storm, the ship that carries the prisoner Paul and his companions runs aground on the only beach on the island of Malta. The Maltese demonstrate an "unusual humanity" by their hospitality (Acts 28: 2). They light a fire to dry and warm the 276 castaways who come out of the sea stripped of everything. Their generosity lasted for three months. Paul finally arrives in Rome where he remains imprisoned for two years. His ministry continues to this day by the epistles he wrote during this first imprisonment in Rome (Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians, Philemon).

- The apostle John is pleased to learn that Gaius, his spiritual son, opens his house to those who have gone to proclaim the Gospel and offers hospitality not only to those he knows but also to Evangelists whom he never met (3 John 5: 7). If John writes to Gaius, it is to make sure that he can always count on him to accommodate itinerant preachers. What if this letter was addressed to me ?

Source (Please the Lord)