Minister's Desk 2nd October

As we discover in our worship services today, our God is a God who seeks us out and desires a close and personal relationship with each and every one of us.  Since the time of creation, through the stories of the Old Testament and to the coming of Jesus Christ and beyond, God has sought to draw all of humanity into a relationship with him.  The bible makes it very clear that God loves us so much that he took the initiative, at great cost to himself, to rescue us and draw us back to himself. 

In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) we find the father waiting for the son to return.  When he sees his son in the distance the father runs out to meet him.  Some people have called this the parable of the waiting father, rather than the prodigal son.  Among the many things this parable teaches, it shows us very clearly the forgiving and welcoming heart of God.

Growing disciples are people who meditate on and study the character of God, and who eagerly seek to understand what he is like and how he acts.  They do this so they can be formed and transformed in the way they act in this world.  In worship today we talk about the passion God has for drawing people into a relationship with him, and the call that we have to do the same.  But there is also another dimension to the all inclusive love of God.  This is expressed in our open willingness to welcome and include new people into the fellowship of our church community.  Whether these new people are new Christians or people looking for a new spiritual home, God loves and welcomes them into community and calls us to do the same.

There are many specific passages that speak of the hospitality that we should offer to guests.  These include Leviticus 19:33-34 (“When foreigners reside among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigners residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”), Hebrews 13:2 (“do not forget to show hospitality to strangers....”) Titus 1:6 -9 (“An elder must be .... hospitable”).

As people who have been warmly welcomed by God into his family and into his church, we each have a responsibility to be hospitable to those who come as guests to this church.  Some may come for a period as guests of family and friends, others may be searching for a spiritual home and move on recognising that we do not meet their needs, others may choose to stay and put down long term roots.  Whatever their choice is, it is up to each one of us to act in a hospitable way. 

We cannot leave it only up to those who are on roster nor can we avoid it by saying to ourselves “I’m no good talking to strangers”.  The character of God, into which we are being transformed, is that of welcome and inclusion of the stranger.  In the power of the Holy Spirit, each individual can extend hospitality to our guests.