Hospitality Defined: Practical Love in Service to GodSample
![Hospitality Defined: Practical Love in Service to God](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F33941%2F1280x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
The Blessings of Hospitality
The fever left her, and she began to serve them. (v. 31)
As a newlywed, I received some advice from a former Sunday school teacher who suggested I open my home whenever I could. She shared the blessings she and her family experienced by hosting missionaries, seminarians, and people from all over the world. I have tried to follow that advice, and I, too, can speak of the blessings that come from hospitality; for one thing, it widens your understanding of the world and God’s work everywhere!
We see the pattern of blessing in this simple story from Mark’s gospel. Early in Jesus’ ministry, Peter and Andrew brought him home for a meal and a place to stay. In their desire to be hospitable to Jesus, they were blessed by him when he healed Peter’s mother-in-law from a fever. (Note her hospitable heart — as soon as she was healed, she was eager to serve them!) The blessings didn’t stop with Peter’s family. His home became a center of blessing as the “whole city” of Capernaum came to his door, and he healed many. We also see that Jesus was blessed by their hospitality. He was refreshed and equipped to carry on his work, preaching and healing throughout the region.
Hospitality brings blessings all around. There are blessings for the guests, hosts, and even those blessed afterward by the effects. This underscores the joy of serving God when we serve his people this way.
Remember how someone’s hospitality has blessed you as you pray.
Scripture
About this Plan
![Hospitality Defined: Practical Love in Service to God](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F33941%2F1280x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Hosting people, especially around the holidays, can be a joy—but it can also be a burden. God offers us a different way. The Bible shows hospitality as a practical way to demonstrate love for others in service to God. In this 15-day series, consider how to follow God's example of love and service and accept God's good gifts of hospitality to you.
More
We would like to thank Words of Hope for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: https://www.woh.org/youversion
Related Plans
![Spiritually Gifted | Men's Devotional](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F55480%2F320x180.jpg&w=640&q=75)
Spiritually Gifted | Men's Devotional
![Romans: God's Power to Save | Video Devotional](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F55484%2F320x180.jpg&w=640&q=75)
Romans: God's Power to Save | Video Devotional
![Learning to De-Escalate](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F55534%2F320x180.jpg&w=640&q=75)
Learning to De-Escalate
![City Lights Church Fast_2025](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F55501%2F320x180.jpg&w=640&q=75)
City Lights Church Fast_2025
![When Your World Ends](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F55531%2F320x180.jpg&w=640&q=75)
When Your World Ends
![Watching for God in the Psalms](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F55495%2F320x180.jpg&w=640&q=75)
Watching for God in the Psalms
![God in the Midst of Depression](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F55477%2F320x180.jpg&w=640&q=75)
God in the Midst of Depression
![The Deep-Rooted Marriage: A 5-Day Reading Plan](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F55490%2F320x180.jpg&w=640&q=75)
The Deep-Rooted Marriage: A 5-Day Reading Plan
![How to Have a Quiet Time With God](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F55489%2F320x180.jpg&w=640&q=75)
How to Have a Quiet Time With God
![Titus: Godliness in a Rebellious Culture | Video Devotional](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimageproxy.youversionapistaging.com%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fyvplans-staging%2F55498%2F320x180.jpg&w=640&q=75)