A place for everyone, And everyone in their purpose.
A place for everyone, And everyone in their purpose.
In a publication in the Religious Tract Society in 1799 a phrase was coined that very may well describe you, or maybe you are the polar opposite. The phrase “a place for everything and everything in its place” well describes the “neat freaks” in our lives.
In Luke 7 we read an encounter Jesus had which further confirms something we know to be true of him, that being, Jesus is a big fan of hospitality. Jesus had been invited to eat at the house of a religious leader but it was a servant, who some called a “very sinful woman” who greeted Jesus and honored his presence.
It is in this spirit of hospitality that we are called to live. As followers of Jesus we should welcome and serve others. The Christian faith lived out looks like a place for everyone* and everyone in their purpose*. Hospitality is the method by which we invite others to this.
So what is required from us to be people who are welcoming and showing hospitality? First I believe that Hospitality requires humility. You see it all in the story of this woman and you should see it in ours too. The Gospel of Jesus Christ should humble us! We have been saved by grace, (Ephesians 2:8-9) so who do we think we are to boast or brag about anything we’ve done in light of that truth. When we look at others we should not see them in a spirit of judgement but in a spirit that humbly desires them to know Jesus too.
Self denial is at the heart of our faith and without it you don’t have Christianity! (Matthew 16:24) We need to humble ourselves for the purpose of welcoming others to the feet of Jesus. It’s not about credit or earthly platitudes. True hospitality is produced first by genuine humility.
This type of attitude also requires authentic love. The way that we love and serve people should stand out from the world. James chapter 2 instructs us that favoritism and Christianity are at odds with one another. We must love in a way that is unconditional if we are to welcome people as Jesus did.
For our student ministry this is what its imperative that we are not a “If you” student ministry. We don’t love students and seek to serve students, “If you” go to a certain school, look a certain way, have a certain family, play a certain sport, or another qualifier. We are called to love students no matter what because they are made in the image of God and Jesus died to redeem them.
If we want a real faith, one that follows us every day, we need a faith that is a place for everyone and points everyone to their purpose in Jesus.
