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(Click refresh or reload for current message) "Joy-giving Hospitality" Note:
This week we
have been
considering
several lesser
known Bible
characters
from a portion
of Scripture
one Bible
teacher calls
"a grocery
list of
names". Message summary: We encourage each of you to practice joy-giving hospitality! Listen to our message on your audio player "Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings" (Romans 16:23). “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25).Tomorrow we are having an "open house" for those who are interested in seeing the new addition to our home as well as the necessary changes made to our house as result of it. We are hoping some of those who had a part in the BIG project such as the those involved in the construction will come. Several neighbors and friends have also expressed curiosity, especially as they saw the work progressing over the winter months. Though
the major
project was
completed in
January we
waited till
now for the
open house
since we
wanted the
landscaping to
look nice with
new grass on
the work areas
and of course
Brooksyne's
flowers. From
2-6 in this
Saturday
afternoon we
will be here
and have light
refreshments
to share with
those who
come. If any
of our readers
would care to
drop by you
are welcome!
Hospitality
"is the
relationship
of a host
towards a
guest, wherein
the host
receives the
guest with
some amount of
goodwill and
welcome. This
includes the
reception and
entertainment
of guests,
visitors, or
strangers".
Hebrews 13:2
instructs, "Do
not neglect to
show
hospitality to
strangers, for
thereby some
have
entertained
angels
unawares".
Most
of the
greetings in
Romans 16 are
from Paul to
those in the
Roman church.
But today Paul
sends
greetings from
a disciple
named Gaius
who had a
hospitality
ministry.
According to the daily text he and the whole church were enjoying the hospitality of one named Gaius. Another version words it "who is host to me and to the whole church" (ESV). This may suggest that the worship services were held in his home which was a common practice in the New Testament. Even now there are house churches in various parts of our country and throughout the world. There
are five
different
occasions
Gaius is
mentioned in
the New
Testament:
first, in Acts
19:29 and Acts
20:4, where he
is described
as traveling
with Paul and
is one of the
few believers
that Paul
baptized in
Corinth (1
Corinthians
1:14). Gaius
is also
mentioned in 3
John 1:1 as
the recipient
of John's
final epistle
who may have
been another
man by the
same name.
Surely
Paul had an
outstanding,
long-term
relationship
with this
brother, who
likely was
also one of
the first
converts to
Christ in
Corinth.
He had stayed faithful and now opened his home to Paul while he stayed there. Gaius had distinguished himself for his hospitality not only to Paul but to the other believers in the Corinthian church, as well. His
name means, "I
am glad". Note
especially the
words in our
text, "enjoy".
Isn't that a
great way for
people to
describe being
with you?
Through the
years we've
met quite a
few people
like Gaius and
look forward
to being with
them. Just
being around
them uplifts
us
spiritually,
mentally and
even
physically.
Sharing hospitality is a wonderful dimension of God's plan for our lives. As Christians we often call it "fellowshipping together" and we maintain that an essential component of our Christian development takes place in the realm of fellowship, as we interface with one another in our homes, churches and other places of community with true believers. We sure hope you have some folks in your life like Gaius! Brooksyne and I have so many, including many of you who read our daily messages, that we consider ourselves tremendously blessed. We encourage each of you to be an joy-giver to those in your circle of influence on this day and every day! Be
encouraged
today, Hebrews
3:13
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, we
want to be set
apart as a
people who
care about
others,
regularly
expressing
interest in
them as we
follow the
Biblical
mandate that
each of us
should look
not only to
our own
interests, but
also to the
interests of
others. Paul
charged his
readers to
have the same
attitude as
that of Christ
Jesus who is
the supreme
example of
putting
other's needs
before His
own. May we be
more
interested in
sharing joy
with others
than taking it
for ourselves,
for when we
refresh
others, we
ourselves are
refreshed. We
are
replenished as
we give to
others, for
Your reservoir
never runs dry
and we thank
You for it in
Jesus' name.
Amen.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "The Jesus Way" Watch on YouTube Phil Wickham "Nearing Home" Watch on YouTube Selah (Brooksyne's note: I heard this song for the first time last night and really enjoyed the arrangement, lyrics and message contained in this ballad style song based upon the last book Graham wrote, "Nearing Home". While Billy Graham (honored in this song) is not an "unknown" like the Bible characters we have been writing about this past week, I do believe his name would have been included in the Bible if he had been an evangelist during that time period. I dedicate "Nearing Home' sung and written by the pianist and producer of Selah to several of our readers who have told us of their conversion to Christ due to the ministry of Billy Graham, as this song is sure to warm your hearts. How we need to see God raise up another Billy Graham, Billy Sunday, D.L. Moody or others like them who brought people to Christ by the millions over the centuries. To
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Joy, PA 17552
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Daily Encouragement on: Wordpress iHeart radio Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact. Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions. Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity." © Copyright 2024 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA |