TUESDAY 18TH FEBRUARY 2020.THEME: HOSPITALITY A DUTY FOR ALL CHRISTIANS.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE:  TUESDAY 18TH FEBRUARY 2020.

THEME: HOSPITALITY A DUTY FOR ALL CHRISTIANS.

MEMORISE:

Use hospitality one to another without grudging. I Peter 4:9

READ: 1 Peter 4:9-10

9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

MESSAGE 

The central message of Christianity is love, so much so that when Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He answered: 

“…..Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.This is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. ” Matthew 22:37-40

Hospitality is the duty of every Christian and in fact, should be our way of life. See every encounter you have with people as an opportunity to show forth the love of God. Help people. You should never be rude or unaccommodating to anyone, God expects you to be hospitable to anyone you come across. In Genesis 18:17, God who says He wouldn’t do anything without first telling His friend Abraham did not send angels to him directly. He only asked them to take the route through Abraham’s house at the time he would be outside. He expected that Abraham would call the angels in and host them. Being a true child of God, he did not disappoint his Father. Imagine, he hosted angels! (Genesis 18:1-16)

Many Christians have missed their blessings because they were not as hospitable as they should have been. That sweaty fellow you did not offer a bottle of water could have been the key to your prayers being answered. Many of us are hospitable to our guests, which is good, but we can actually do better. Have you considered the widow on your street, the beggar on your way home and other disadvantaged people around you?

I must add that hospitality is not limited to giving out material things. It could also be shown through warmth and friendliness to people- a word of encouragement or just a smile. From today, decide to be a true Christian and be hospitable to everyone you come across. God will bless you for it.

KEY POINT:

God wants you to be hospitable; don’t disappoint Him.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 14-15

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 20:  NEARER, MY GOD TO THEE.

1. Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,

Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

o Refrain:

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

2. Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,

Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;

Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee.

3. There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n;

All that Thou sendest me, in mercy giv’n;

Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.

4. Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,

Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;

So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

5. Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,

Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,

Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

6. There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,

There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;

Age after age to be nearer, my God, to Thee.