Open Doors
At Hope Church we talk about community a lot! When we talk about community, we are talking about the type of life that God has designed for us to thrive in. When we talk about true community, we mean that we are committed to living out all of God’s instructions for His Church. The Biblical truth is that Christians don’t go to church; we are the Church. God’s people are the Church when we love and serve each other in the way that God has designed us.
We often describe the Christian community as a family. Unlike our earthly family, this is a new community that can lead to even deeper relationships. Unfortunately, many today miss out on that type of community because they allow small things to get in the way of potential future relationships. I like to say that we can act like there is a “no vacancy” sign hanging around our necks. We communicate to others that there is no desire for us to get to know them, to care for them, or to invite them into our lives.
Without a doubt, there are reasons we might be tempted to block others out. Most of us have had past painful interactions with others, we have been disappointed by those closest to us, and we have had our expectations go unmet. These are not reasons to avoid the command that God has given us to love one another, to care for one another, and make room for one another in our lives. His command is not optional for the follower of Jesus; it is essential.
To experience this type of community, we have to be intentional about opening ourselves up to the possibility of new relationships. One of the most powerful ways we can do this is by practicing hospitality. Hospitality is something that God expects us to do:
Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Romans 15:7 ESV)
Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. (1 Peter 4:9 ESV)
I have a good laugh when I read the “without grumbling” part of that passage. Why would Peter include that in his command for hospitality? I think he knew what we know, that hospitality can be awkward, difficult, and expensive. But that is not an excuse for us not to do it. Hospitality is essential for us to experience true Christian community.
Hospitality begins with offering an invitation. I want to challenge you to consider ways that you can extend an invitation to someone to invite them into a relationship with you. I am guessing that if you do, there is a possibility that some might decline your invitation. But if you keep it up, some might say yes and it opens the door for a new and exciting opportunity to live out God’s command for us to live in true community with one another.
I pray that as a church family we continue to grow in our ability to welcome others into our lives.
Expectantly,
Shawn
