Outside the Box Hospitality

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. (Acts 2:46-47 ESV)

I’ve been given the label “foodie” many times in life. I enjoy really good food and sometimes questionably good food. (I’m looking at you, Taco Bell.) I like to cook a lot, not so much bake, since it involves a preciseness that I don’t have the patience for, but beyond just the food and the enjoyment of it, I love experiencing food WITH people. The way food can light up someone’s face and change their demeanor, I want to experience that every single time, whether I cook it or we get it at a fun new restaurant or café, I love seeing people’s enjoyment of a food they love or are trying for the first time.

This could easily become a little food blog article, what I really want to say is that when I experience good food, with good people, in my home or out, I am reminded of the good gifts God has for me and for those I love. When I can nourish through a homecooked meal, an experience planned, or through sharing a table with others, I experience God’s presence. God reminds me that I am built for community and often that community comes together around food.

This year, God has given my husband and I the word, “hospitality” to practice. I was excited to hear this as it’s a huge part of my heart in ministry, but immediately we were tested. Due to sickness and other factors, I didn’t think it was going very well; we couldn’t invite others over, I couldn’t make a meal for a group of people, and it didn’t feel like we were making any headway. As I brought my frustrations to the Lord, He began to show me that it’s not just a place or opening our home or feeding people, but an attitude that I can carry around with me and share with others. He allowed me to think outside the box to be hospitable; to send people groceries through food apps, give a word of encouragement, extend an invitation, offer a smile, all of these ways and more to open our lives up to hospitality’s role in welcoming at any given moment.  

Sure, opening my home feels like the natural way to extend hospitality and it always will, but God has shown me myriad ways that it can look different, how to cultivate it deep within me to overflow to others, and I’m so thankful.

Liz Thelen

For Reflection

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Psalm 34:8b ESV)

• In what ways has God asked you to be more hospitable in life? Are they surprising to you in any way?

• What does it feel like to you when you are hospitable, when you listen to the Lord and carry out hospitality in a specific way for someone else? Describe it to the Lord, thank Him for the opportunities, and ask Him for more.