A Place of Welcome
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Terry R. Baughman
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).
Home is a place of hospitality. It is a place where the inhabitants can freely live and create a space where they can be themselves; where they can have honest conversation and openly exchange ideas; where people can gather to enjoy fun and laughter, food and games, as they strengthen the connection of friendship. Home is where you retreat to recuperate, rest and recharge. Home is the fort for the family a safe place where boundaries are respected and each member finds security and defense.
Even Jesus respected the privacy of home. He is depicted as one standing outside the door respectfully knocking. He awaited the invitation to enter. Jesus is a gentleman, never forcing His way into our lives or our hearts. He awaits outside for us to respond to Him and invite Him inside.
“If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me,” Jesus said. Hospitality and welcome will prepare one for the gracious guest of the Christ. Communion awaits. Fellowship is available. Unity and spiritual fulfillment are possible when you invite Him in. The Psalmist sang of the blessing of being in His presence, “In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
There is nothing like sweet communion with Christ. A hymn by Joseph C. Ludgate, published in 1898, expresses this special relationship, “Friendship with Jesus, fellowship divine! Oh, what blessed, sweet communion, Jesus is a friend of mine.”
The gift of hospitality was recognized in the New Testament writings. Paul wrote to a young preacher concerning the requirements for a bishop, or an overseer, “He must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined” (Titus 1:8). In another passage he wrote that we should “Practice hospitality” (Romans 12:13).
We can be blessed to extend hospitality and exercise our gift generously. We may also experience receiving hospitality from others. Both are a blessing. While Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give that to receive,” it may also be observed that it is a privilege to to be the recipient of another’s welcome (Acts 20:35). It is rewarding to be on the receiving side of someone who welcomes and makes others comfortable in their home, no matter how simple and basic it may be. There is something about a warm welcome that fills a barren space and cheers the guest with the blessing of others.
Seek to serve one another. Through sacrifice and giving of ourselves to extend an embrace of welcome, we may also experience the gift of a warm welcome from another. There’s no where like home and no place to better share a welcome!
Scripture:
“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts” (Acts 2:46 NIV).
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Terry R. Baughman
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).
Home is a place of hospitality. It is a place where the inhabitants can freely live and create a space where they can be themselves; where they can have honest conversation and openly exchange ideas; where people can gather to enjoy fun and laughter, food and games, as they strengthen the connection of friendship. Home is where you retreat to recuperate, rest and recharge. Home is the fort for the family a safe place where boundaries are respected and each member finds security and defense.
Even Jesus respected the privacy of home. He is depicted as one standing outside the door respectfully knocking. He awaited the invitation to enter. Jesus is a gentleman, never forcing His way into our lives or our hearts. He awaits outside for us to respond to Him and invite Him inside.
“If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me,” Jesus said. Hospitality and welcome will prepare one for the gracious guest of the Christ. Communion awaits. Fellowship is available. Unity and spiritual fulfillment are possible when you invite Him in. The Psalmist sang of the blessing of being in His presence, “In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
There is nothing like sweet communion with Christ. A hymn by Joseph C. Ludgate, published in 1898, expresses this special relationship, “Friendship with Jesus, fellowship divine! Oh, what blessed, sweet communion, Jesus is a friend of mine.”
The gift of hospitality was recognized in the New Testament writings. Paul wrote to a young preacher concerning the requirements for a bishop, or an overseer, “He must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined” (Titus 1:8). In another passage he wrote that we should “Practice hospitality” (Romans 12:13).
We can be blessed to extend hospitality and exercise our gift generously. We may also experience receiving hospitality from others. Both are a blessing. While Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give that to receive,” it may also be observed that it is a privilege to to be the recipient of another’s welcome (Acts 20:35). It is rewarding to be on the receiving side of someone who welcomes and makes others comfortable in their home, no matter how simple and basic it may be. There is something about a warm welcome that fills a barren space and cheers the guest with the blessing of others.
Seek to serve one another. Through sacrifice and giving of ourselves to extend an embrace of welcome, we may also experience the gift of a warm welcome from another. There’s no where like home and no place to better share a welcome!
Scripture:
“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts” (Acts 2:46 NIV).
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