Heroic Hospitality
Scripture Reading — 3 John
We ought … to show hospitality … so that we may work together for the truth.
3 John 8
Moving to a new church 12 years ago was hard for my wife. While I was eager to jump into a new ministry, she was left dealing with our two kids while getting used to a different house, a new community, and lots of friendly people who were not yet her friends. At the same time, her father was ill with cancer, and she was carrying our third child.
I thank God for two young moms in our new church who invited Connie to every social event they could think of. They weren’t overbearing, but they made sure Connie didn’t have to be alone if she didn’t want to be. They rescued her from loneliness while her clueless husband was happily “doing the Lord’s work.” They were patiently persistent and absolute accepting of her. They were heroically hospitable!
So it was with Gaius. He welcomed traveling Christian teachers at great expense to himself, while facing opposition from self- seeking people like Diotrephes. Gaius didn’t like to see people standing alone (especially missionaries of the gospel), so he did something about it. It’s not something you do because it’s convenient. It’s a decision to personify God’s warm embrace so that others can experience it too.
Have you thought about how you can show hospitality to others?
Dear God, we want others to know you are a God of deep grace and warm embrace. Show us someone who is standing alone, and make us into heroes of hospitality. We pray in Jesus’ name, and we cherish his leading. Amen.
About the author — David Den Haan
Pastor Dave Den Haan has served at Fairway Christian Reformed Church in Jenison, Michigan, since 1999. Previously he served a church in Minnesota. Dave and his wife, Connie, have three children.
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