I just don't want to share....

There are a few things that hinder me from showing hospitality, well, two especially: busyness and selfishness.  Sometimes I just don't want to share.  I don't want to give up my one night to sit and do nothing.  There are too many things going on, I can't have someone over for dinner!  I don't want to open my home, especially when I haven't had enough time to make things just right. 

Have you ever said any of these things?

It's true, hospitality comes at a cost.  I am learning that the higher the cost, the more the Lord surprises me! There are days when we get a call in the afternoon asking if we can get together with someone, and I am buried in daily tasks; I think to myself - no way!  Those are the nights it seems when the Lord works, not through my effort, but through His Spirit.  He uses a selfish person like me to minister His love to those in need ~ through an open heart and open home.  I can actually begin to see this as a privilege to serve in this way.  We have been talking about in Galatians about how we are set free to serve one another.  What a tangible way to put this truth into practice. 

A wise man once said, "True freedom is the liberty to love and serve others while fighting self-indulgence".  When we open our homes to show hospitality, whether it be a game night, dinner party, or just coffee, we are fighting our fleshly desires and truly loving and serving others as God has called us to.

Lord God, I ask for You to forgive me for loving myself more than I love You.  I need Your help to take my eyes off myself and turn towards You.  Help me to see more clearly the work that was done on the cross.  A work that was done that has set me free!  Free to love and serve others, free to lay down my life daily for my family and my church.  Lord, I pray that  You would place a burden on my heart to reach out, even when it is completely inconvenient. Lord, I pray that You would help me make my home a place that has a fragrance of your peace and love ~ a place of refuge for others. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Posted by Taraleigh