Extreme Hospitality!

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2 ESV)

On a recent trip to Pakistan, I was reminded how far behind westerners are when it comes to hospitality. The last night, three of us stayed in Lahore in the home of a brother in the Lord we had never met, but who was the cousin of a friend of my travelling companion. He lives with his brother and mother in a home with five places to sleep. My travelling companion and I were far too tired that evening to comprehend what the arrangements were beyond where we were meant to sleep, so we went to bed while my other companion stayed up and spoke at length with our hosts. It wasn’t until we woke up very early to get to the airport that we understood the arrival of three guests meant our host just didn’t sleep because there was no space for him to do so. He stayed up all night making us food instead. His hospitality cost him more than a cuppa and some biscuits.

Which, in turn, gets me thinking about how some denominations refer to the bread for the Lord’s Supper as ‘the Host.’ How fitting. The Host of the meal at the Lord’s table is Jesus himself, and the fare he offers is his flesh and blood, true bread and true drink. What astounding hospitality for the Host to lay down his life to feed his guests! Even Pakistanis are humbled by this sort of welcome.

The responsibility of the guest in Pakistan took some getting used to for me. It was hard to receive extreme hospitality at first, and, at the start, I felt like I had to do something to pay it back. I have since realised how anti-gospel that attitude was. Receiving extreme hospitality has taught me how to receive the extravagant grace of God. 

Fred Swartz

For Reflection

“For my flesh is true bread, and my blood is true drink.” (John 6:55 ESV)

• What hinders your receiving from Jesus?

• What does Christ-like hospitality look like in your culture?