Topic: The Power of Hospitality (3)
Dear Reader,
With great delight, I welcome you this week to your refreshing column. I have enjoyed the past two weeks of teaching this exciting topic, ‘Hospitality’. I have equally learnt new things and I have no doubt in my mind that you also have been refreshed. I hope you are putting into practice the things you have gained.
In the past two weeks, I have taken time to dig a little deep into the importance of hospitality. God’s perspective towards being hospitable is not a secret; it originated from Him. He demonstrates this towards us on a daily basis.
This week, I shall be dwelling on “Hospitality: My Defence.” From the scriptural perspective, I shall be throwing more light on the power that hospitality has for your defence and I shall be examining this by going through the various areas of defence.
Defence from Destruction
Abraham, the Patriarch, took his nephew along with him, when he embarked on his divine assignment in the land of Canaan. Lot was like a foster child who grew up with him.
Things went well for the two of them where they sojourned until this fateful day. Abraham, unknown to him, entertained the angels that would have destroyed his nephew. And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said (Genesis 18:3-5).
As a result of God’s respect for Abraham, He decided to save the righteous in the land of Sodom and Gomorrah; but this righteous man too, was given a hospitality test. It was recorded in the Bible: The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. “My lords,” he said, “please turn aside to your servant’s house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning
“No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.” But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate (Genesis 19:1-3 NIV)
Lot was a man given to hospitality; like his uncle Abraham, he too entertained these angels and he was not destroyed with the ungodly. This must have been a tradition in the house of Abraham. If I may ask you: What legacy do you have for your children or those that live under your roof? Begin to train them now, before they go out of your house.You shall not be a partaker of the destruction out there in Jesus’ name.
Defence from Untimely Death
When Job was protesting against his sickness, one of the virtues he said he never neglected was hospitality. In the Book of Job 31:32 he said: The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller. That’s not surprising, because the Lord himself said that Job was an upright man who feared God and turned away from evil (Job 1:1).
In the history of God’s people from the beginning, one of God’s appointed duties for the righteous is hospitality, which simply means willingness to welcome strangers into your home. It will interest you to know that the righteous will not be forsaken in his trouble. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles… Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all (Psalm 34:17-19)
Do you want God to promptly act when you call? Then give yourself to hospitality. It is a powerful weapon of defence. I see God defending you and your household. You shall know no sorrow! This year, the God of exemption will send His angels to keep you in all your ways. If you will like to key into this new way of life, you need to invite Jesus into your heart. If you are set to accept Jesus into your heart and become a child of God, then pray this prayer of faith with me: “Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today acknowledging that I am a sinner who needs Your forgiveness. I believe You died for me and rose again on the third day. Forgive me my sins, wash me with Your Blood and write my name in the Lamb’s Book of life. Thank You Lord for saving me.”
If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, congratulations, you are born again! You are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).
With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).
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