2024_11_25 Insight Post- Kim Feld
This week’s reading- Acts 16:12-15, Acts 16:40, Philippians 1:1-10
During this holiday season, when many of us either travel or have family and friends traveling to see us, the concept of hospitality takes on a special significance. It’s a time when meals and lodging are shared, and we have a unique opportunity to reconnect with those we love but may not see every day.
As I read about Lydia this week, her hospitality stood out to me. She offered her home as a place for Paul and his traveling companions to find shelter and rest. After Paul and Silas were released from prison, they returned to Lydia’s home.
We tend to think of hospitality as opening our homes to someone, but it’s much deeper than that. Hospitality is about making space for others in our lives, and it’s a simple act that doesn’t require our homes to be immaculate or the perfect meal to be prepared. It’s about sharing ourselves with others, without the pressure of perfection.
Our practice of hospitality is not just a social norm, but a reflection of God’s own hospitality towards us. He invited us in through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who became one of us and showed us how to slow down and prioritize people over things. He welcomes us and wants us to follow His example.
How can we practice all aspects of hospitality this week? Let’s take a moment to reflect on our own acts of hospitality, and how we can further open our hearts to others this holiday season.
Kim Feld
Executive Director of Education and Outreach