Being Hospitable Doesn't Require Much

September 10, 2019 • Erendira Ramirez-Ortega

A dear friend of mine wrote me to tell me her grandmother had passed away. I remember her grandmother: a sweet, gentle soul who had a spark in her smile and a twinkle in her eyes. One summer, she even invited me to stay with her for six weeks while I attended college. What a tremendous blessing she was to me during that time! We ate together and had many great conversations. I’ll always have fond memories of her as the generous person who opened her home to me and welcomed me with warmth and hospitality.

Hospitality demonstrates the love Jesus gives to us. The Bible says God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son to die for us on Calvary (John 3:16). Then, He rose from the dead, providing a way for us to live forever with Him. God loves us more than anything, and Christ was born to live out that love to the world. When we were sinners, He did everything so we could be with Him. Now that is what I call hospitality!

God loves people, and we should too. Hospitality says the following: “I accept you. You are welcomed. And I love you just as you are.” That is what Jesus says to us, and that is what we should say to others. He takes us just as we are, slowly transforming us to be more like Him.

Remember that we are to encourage those who need love—students, missionaries, the aging. We may not always see them as lovely, but God loves them. In Christ, we’re called to love them too. You might be surprised by how blessed you are when you show God’s hospitality to others.


Who has shown hospitality to you lately? What did they do for you?

It can be difficult to offer hospitality when you are young, but God has given you unique resources and gifts. How can you use them to show hospitality to others?