“Hospitality is where Christ’s love prevails. It heals—and frees the healthy to serve.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – October 7, 2022
Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So, he went to her, took her hand and she began to wait on them. Mark 1:30-31
A home is able to offer the hospitality of healing where the healing of Jesus is experienced on an ongoing basis. Not a one and done healing, but one of many relational repairs until Jesus comes or we go to be with Him. A home that often invites Jesus in for fellowship and healing is a home whose safe environment extends hope to anxious hearts, love to fearful souls and mercy to broken hearts. A home with a healing atmosphere recognizes that Jesus is a gentleman and will only access the premises if an invitation is extended for humble hearts to thrive with their Savior. Jesus saves unbelievers from chronic sin to avoid hell and heals believers from acute sin to bring heaven on earth. Hospitality is where Christ’s love prevails. It heals, freeing the healthy to serve.
Jesus was invited by Peter (Simon) to come into his home to help his mother-in-law who was sick with a fever. The rugged fisherman, not only was the breadwinner of his home, he was the compassionate son-in-law, who made sure to take care of his wife’s mom. Caregiver to the one who for most of his wife’s life was cared for by her mom. Not one to ever be shy about taking action, impetuous Peter knew Jesus could make a difference in his home, especially in the physical affairs of his mother-in-law. With a simple touch, Jesus healed her, and she began to serve them! Peter had left home to follow Jesus, but when his home was in need, he came home to give Jesus.
“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality” (Romans 12:13).
Start by making sure your home has spiritual, emotional and relational healing, so you are prepared to offer the hospitality gift of healing. You know you are healthy with God and family when you are connected in love and trust. Pain from past hurts have been forgiven, grudges have been let go and resentment has lost its ugly influence. You are healed when you confess your pain to Jesus and apply His healing forgiveness. You are healed when righteous prayers of friends cover your brokenness, mending and molding you back to your healthy self. You heal your spouse by listening with empathy and responding with compassionate care. You heal your child with hugs of hope, reminding him of your love, even when he makes bad choices. When your home is healed, you qualify as a haven of hospitality to offer healing, hope and safety.
A healthy home accepts uniqueness, affirms value and in love keeps fear at bay or sends it away. Maybe a child in your life does not have a loving parent available to protect her and to train her in the ways of the Lord. For a season, Christ may be calling you to be her home of healing, so one day she will be blessed with a healthy home of her own. Or, maybe children in your community are hungry to learn the Bible. You can be their conduit to learn about Christ with fun activities, Bible reading and Scripture memory. Feed them and they will come—the Jesus method! Perhaps once a month you have meals in your home with extended family. Take the initiative, you know better. Your hospitality of healing is a priceless gift to all hurting hearts.
“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling” (1 Peter 4:9).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, bring healing to our home, so we in turn can offer our home as a sanctuary of healing to hurting hearts, through Christ’s love and in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
Check out these resources to teach the Bible to children, maybe a study for kids in your neighborhood… Child Evangelism Fellowship, Orange.
Related Reading
Acts 28:7; Romans 16:13; Hebrews 13:2; 1 Timothy 5:10; 3 John 1:5-8
Worship Resource
Red Rocks Worship: You Will Be My Song
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