"Let brotherly love continue. Don't neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it. Remember the prisoners, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily."
- Hebrews 13:1-3
I am extremely challenged by these verses. Somewhat by verses 1 and 2, but especially by verse 3. As I consider the command of having brotherly love continue I can do nothing but agree! Who wouldn't? -- But how.. well, verses 2 and 3 (and continuing) offer a very practical and in-exhaustive list.
Hospitality -- not all people consider themselves hospitable. They don't have "the gift" of hospitality.. I have considered that before, especially in my younger years! These days I would boast in my hospitality (with an unhealthy hint of pride).. but who do I desire to show hospitality to? My friends, yes. My friends' friends, yes. A homeless man? ... possibly. What about the most repulsive and annoying person you know who needs brotherly love. What about them? This is not a challenge to say that you should start here, but let's aim for it. Luke 12:48 says, "Much will be required of everyone who has been given much, and more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more."
Have you been given a place to live? Does it have room to welcome others from time to time? Well, find someone who has the needs that you can supply! It's part of the Kingdom Economy. Hospitality leaks into many other contexts other than just places of residence, but I'll let you figure those out in your life as I continue to find them in mine!
Verse 3 "Remember the prisoners, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily."
Wow.. I live in America! How can I know, how can I feel this, how can I possibly empathize to these situations? I wake up every day in a house, I have food all sorts of food at my finger tips, and I can have coffee almost every day if I want. 80% of my furniture is comfortable; if I go outside I have clothes to keep me warm or sunscreen to protect me from the sun. I can shower each day (and night if I want to). Drinking water is readily dispensable from any location within a minute or less. My greatest discomforts are dry skin an occasional headache or sore muscle.
In relation to v3 of Hebrews 13, I consider all these things petty. But I'm not evaluating my position in life, but trying to learn how to empathize with those in seemingly impossible situations. Here is my attempt...
I've often speculated -- to the child in the 3rd world country, how horrible is it? This is the life they know, they haven't experienced my life, or another persons life. They don't have greater expectations. As I try to ask myself, what would it look like to wear the lenses that they see through, to empathize, I also have to ask myself could they empathize with me. They might not even desire the life I have (Which I think is the assumption that I think most American's assume about people from "lesser fortunate" areas.) -- My life is so easily desensitized from spiritual things. My focus is constantly drawn to things that are fleeting that were created for our pleasure and not God's Glory. Realistically, this is a partly a soapbox stemming from the Screwtape letters.
Honestly, to best empathize with a person who is imprisoned and suffering bodily, I find myself only desiring one thing for them. That same thing which we have been given hope for -- eternity in Heaven with Jesus our Savior, and God our Father. I don't desire my life for him -- America is full of snares for Christians, possibly even more so than a person who is imprisoned for their beliefs. My empathy for him is to pray for Him to desire Jesus more and to Trust in God more.
This is the best that I can come up with right now....
Please comment and share with your ideas and thoughts about hospitality and for sympathy in regards to continually showing brotherly love!
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