The Character of Christ: Acting Like JesusSample

The Hospitality of Christ

Hospitality—deepening friendships with others, even strangers—can be rare these days. Part of the reason is that we live in a drive-straight-into-your-garage, stare-at-your-screens, do-everything-online sort of culture. Even when we are near people, we’re not necessarily with them.

There’s much about this we can appreciate, especially as introverts. Ordering on an app is so much better than ordering at a drive-through! But we need to be careful and recognize that as we move away from hospitality and friendship, we also move away from a big part of what it means to be human. God made us in his image. We are designed to be relational as God himself is relational. God has enjoyed perfect eternal relationship within his triune nature, and he designed us to be in meaningful relationships with him and others.

We see the importance of relationships in the earthly ministry of Jesus. He had close friends in the Twelve, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. But he also sought out new friendships, like with Zacchaeus—so much so that he was accused of being a friend of sinners (Luke 7:34). What was meant to be a pejorative, Jesus almost surely took as praise. He loved people—all people—and he delighted in spending time with them. Saving people was not a theological or academic exercise for Jesus; it was an act of love, one that served the grand purpose of restoring relationship with humanity.

Most of our kids are blessed with many environments in which they can develop friendships and demonstrate hospitality. Is there a new student or one struggling to fit in at school they can befriend? Kids in the neighborhood to invite over? How about the kids on their sports teams, in band or theater, or who are part of the other extracurricular activities they’re involved in? For older kids, do they have any coworkers they can get to know more? All it might take is a quick “hello,” an invitation to sit together, or even simply a question: “What’s your name?” The greatest thing our kids can give someone is an explanation of how they can have a friendship with Jesus. The next best thing just might be their friendship.

1. What draws you to the hospitality of Christ?
2. How might you help your kid(s) imitate Christ’s hospitality today?