hospitality

I've scratched resolutions. That used to be the highlight of my New Year's Eve. Sad, I know. But this New Year's was great, and now I'm trying something different.

One word.

I've chosen one word for the year. It came to me in December. I had started reading my Bible regularly...a great idea, by the way...first thing in the morning, before I eat, before I check email, before I get dressed. If I do anything else before reading, the reading doesn't get done.

So I kept coming across this word: HOSPITALITY.

My Bible has commentary, which I love. It helps me understand things so much better.
Like at the end of 2 Timothy, Paul is sending out final greetings:

"Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus."

Not very moving, right? But the commentary says, "Like Paul, we should take time to weave our lives into others' through close personal relationships." Now that was interesting.

Then it was on to Titus. A short book with this cool verse:
"Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined."
The commentary said, "We would benefit from inviting people to eat with us.....Giving hospitality is very important today because so many people struggle with loneliness. In our self-centered society, we can show that we care by being hospitable."

And then this famous verse:

In Hebrews 13:2 "Do not forget to enterain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it."
The commentary had this to say, "Hospitality simply means making other people feel comfortable and at home."

It couldn't have been more obvious. This year, I need to focus on hospitality.

And honestly, I've never been really good at it. I forget to offer people something to drink. I never have amazing snacks. My house is often in shambles, dishes piled in the sink, or more often scattered about any surface in the kitchen, clothes waiting to be folded in a pile in the hallway.

But I'm hoping hospitality is more than a clean house. Plus, I'm going to try and use closed doors more....I can throw all the junk in a room and close the door, right?

On New Year's, our pastor gave out a study guide for Bible reading for the next few weeks. I was shocked when I read the summary for week 1: "....Our God is a God of hospitality, creating a place for a people, a place where all life can flourish...."

So there it is.

2012. Hospitality.

We welcome you to our house.