Hospitality

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. …given to hospitality.” (Romans 12:1-2, 13)

You wouldn’t normally think of hospitality as a 'living-sacrifice' item but according to the apostle Paul it is. Some bible translations use the phrase practice hospitality and that is ok but the intentioned meaning is one of a deliberate pursuit. Given to hospitality is closer to the idea. And this action on our part is a proof, a tangible manifestation that we have indeed entered into our reasonable service. Hosting others is right there in the same chapter with prophesy, exhortation, and mercy. It is a big deal.

So, when we are told to give our lives totally over to the Lord, He is kind enough to tell us what the results will look like. And on this point, it looks like a crowded table.