Thoughts from Sunday lunch

Offering hospitality is something which the Bible encourages.  The apostle Paul urges Christians to ‘practice hospitality.’  Peter writes, ‘Show hospitality to one another.’  Hospitality was a very important part of life in the ancient world, when travellers would rely on acquaintances, friends and relatives to provide overnight lodging (in general, inns were unsafe and uncomfortable).  But the call to offer hospitality in the New Testament encompasses not only friends and relatives.  The writer to the Hebrews encourages, ‘Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.’  

It is interesting to note in the gospels how many times we find Jesus responding to the offer of hospitality.  Sharing a meal with people can be a great way to build relationships.  Sue and I benefited recently from the gift of hospitality when we were invited to a couple's home for Sunday lunch.  It was a real blessing for us to be able to share both good food and interesting conversation in a relaxed setting with very attentive hosts.

It so happened that the couple who offered us hospitality are both very gifted in using their hands.  Several pieces of furniture in the house were hand-crafted by the husband, including the dining table, dining chairs and coffee tables (I know that envy isn’t a good thing, but I couldn’t help being a little regretful that I seem to have been at the end of the line when God was handing out d-i-y skills!)  The wife of the couple is clearly immensely gifted in craft work of various kinds, and there were examples of her creative gift on display around the house; again, a great deal to be admired.

It was clear as they talked about their handiwork, that they were quite rightly very proud of their creations.  It must be wonderful for someone with a creative gift to be able to enjoy the fruits of their labour in that way.  The experience of spending time with this couple came back to me during last Sunday evening’s church service.  We were looking at some encouraging words from the Old Testament book of Isaiah, chapter 43.  God spoke through the prophet to encourage his people.

The chapter begins with these words, ‘But now, this is what the Lord says – he who created you, .. he who formed you..’  Later in the passage, God says, ‘you are precious and honoured in my sight, and … I love you.’  I am reminded of the words of the Psalmist, ‘For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.’  As I was sharing some thoughts on the Isaiah 43 passage, into my mind came the connection between the passage and our experience of hospitality.  The couple clearly delighted in their creations.  In a similar way, God himself delights in what he has created, and that includes you and me!

Whatever we may think of ourselves, the wonderful truth is that our Creator God delights in us; in his eyes we are precious and honoured.  I can’t think of anything more amazing than that!

One other thought which has just come to me.  Perhaps it's not surprising that Jesus himself seems to have taken on the role of carpenter; he was expressing something of the creative gift of Father God.