Peter urges persecuted believers to exercise hospitality (1 Peter 4:9), which raises a question: How do unpersecuted believers today measure up? Is hospitality really that big of a deal? Apparently, it was an essential factor in the Great Commission—”as you go through life, teach…” Anna Jacob, in her post “Open Homes in a Closed-Off World: The Gift of Hospitality,” helps us move beyond the staples of hospitality when she reminds us that “hospitality is never just about food or shelter. It’s about making room for God to move in ways we cannot begin to think or imagine.”
While teaching and prayer formed the “main course” of early church life, Jacob believes “it grew because of open doors, shared meals, and humble hosts who turned ordinary homes into sacred spaces.” In those warm, welcoming environments, the gospel quickly spread far and wide. Why is hospitality so important? Her answer: “Hospitality is a sacred calling because it mirrors the welcoming heart of God—a God who notices, invites, and makes room for us all.”
The Spectrum of Hospitality Concerns
However, there is a spectrum regarding hospitality. On one end, you have those who are concerned about perfection and miss opportunities for hospitality. On the other end, you have those eager to show hospitality but lacking orderliness. These believers miss opportunities to model the beauty of what a home looks like when organized by the biblical principles of excellence.
“Hospitality is a sacred calling because it mirrors the welcoming heart of God—a God who notices, invites, and makes room for us all.”
— Anna Jacob
While Jacob is correct that “true hospitality doesn’t demand perfection or seek attention. It does not require a beautifully set table or a magazine-worthy home. What it does require is a willingness to be present, to create space for others, and to offer warmth, grace, and a sense of belonging. There is also a need to be an example to the believers.
Hospitality as Mission
Believers must see hospitality not as an entry we squeeze into our calendar when we have time or a duty we endure when we have the emotional bandwidth. Instead, hospitality “has to become a lifestyle and be a conscious, committed mindset that calls for a shift in how we see people. In a world that is rushing by, there are countless opportunities to show the love of Christ, if only we pause long enough to see them.” When practiced as a lifestyle, hospitality changes lives and builds loving communities.
Disclaimer: Information in my “slip-box” doesn’t necessarily reflect my agreement with the source or all its content. Recording diverse perspectives helps strengthen one’s position beyond the echo chamber of like-minded thinkers. By documenting alternative viewpoints, we engage in the intellectual wrestling match that ultimately deepens our understanding.
I aspire to post one note from my “slip-box” every weekday. If you want to learn more about how to work with knowledge, click this link: What is knowledge management?
Pastor Dan Patrick, raised in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., holds both a Bible degree and a Master’s of Divinity. He has ministered across five states from coast to coast, serving in various capacities, including pastoral leadership. Dan’s primary mission is to help people love God’s Word and find their purpose in God’s work.
