sermonette: Entertaining Angels?
Displaying Godly Hospitality for Our Brethren
Bill Onisick
Given 14-Apr-12; Sermon #1097s; 17 minutes
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Bill Onisick, reflecting upon his trip to Chile where the brethren, without even knowing him, demonstrated considerable warmth and friendliness, asks, "Am I doing all I can to show hospitality to strangers?" Everything which happens in our lives generally occurs for a specific reason or purpose. Our first impressions about the hospitality of brethren can build a foundation of love or charity to strangers, because we were all strangers at one time. When a person shows hospitality, he usually receives something in return, far in excess of the effort originally expended. If we have not practiced hospitality, we have missed out on many opportunities to become enriched. Abraham, at one time, demonstrated hospitality to strangers who turned out to be angels. We need to reciprocate the hospitality and generosity God has given us by focusing on serving. The scriptures are replete with examples of individuals who exercised hospitality, who received many times the blessings in return--from the Midian priest who served Moses, to Rahab showing hospitality to the spies, the Samaritan's hospitality, Jesus washing the disciples' feet, and the miracle at the wedding at Cana. We are admonished to practice hospitality to one another, as God has demonstrated hospitality to us. Have we unknowingly entertained angels, as had our father Abraham? Hospitality automatically brings blessings, including enhanced relationships and, ultimately, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, the culmination of our sole reason for living. In this event, we will no longer be strangers to one another anymore, but family.
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Deuteronomy 10:18-19 Feliz Sabados Genesis 18:1-8 Hebrews 13:2 Hospitality John 4:3 Leviticus 19:34 Love the stranger Marriage Supper Matthew 25:40 I Peter 4:9 Revelation 19:7-9 Stranger who dwelt among you Strangers Romans 12:13
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