“When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. ‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord,’ she said, ‘come and stay at my house.’ And she persuaded us.” Acts 16:15 (NIV)
Have you ever been to someone’s house and you felt right at home? After being there you experienced a special touch of love and encouragement. You left feeling better than when you arrived. Now that’s hospitality! When someone rolls out the red carpet on your behalf, you feel valued. You realize that they placed your needs before their own. Their conduct benefited your life and made you feel treasured.
After Lydia became a Christ follower, she extended gracious hospitality to Paul and his traveling companions. Lydia rolled out the red carpet to make them feel right at home. She sought to meet their needs and to provide an atmosphere where they could be refreshed. Her ministry of hospitality did not end there. God blessed Lydia’s hospitality and allowed her home to become the meeting place for the church at Philippi.
- “After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left.” Acts 16:40 (NIV)
- “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:13 (NIV)
During Paul’s imprisonment in Rome, he wrote a beautiful love letter to the church at Philippi. You can read it now by opening the Bible and turning to the book of Philippians. God used Lydia to touch our lives even today through her willingness to be hospitable.
Choose to practice hospitality. Look for ways to place the needs of others before your own. Capture moments to demonstrate the value of others. Be hospitable!
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell