We know that other than loving God, the greatest commandment is to love our neighbors—it's the very foundation of who we're called to be. Through this study, I have been reminded that hospitality is a beautiful expression of love in action.
We are called to be both proactive and sacrificial in our hospitality. It's not passive—it's active service. But it's also so much more than just doing things for people. True hospitality is about our direct, personal presence. It's about listening, connecting, and engaging with genuine care.
We are called to TRULY see others. Not just glance at them, not just acknowledge their presence, but to truly see them—their hearts, their needs, their humanity. We're called to extend empathy and kindness, to listen rather than assume, to be supportive and uplifting in every interaction.
I think one of the biggest challenges of this is being this kind of intentional when we are in this busy season of our lives of working, parenting, being a good wife, keeping up the house and checking 7,000 forms of communication every day, most of them asking something of us or adding something else to the calendar. We can easily fall into a selfish rhythm, only making time for what we feel we need to accomplish to get through each day.
So, my prayer after reading this is that as we prepare to start another school year, which seems to bring an onslaught of chaos and endless to-do's, we remember what the scripture says and refocus our attention on Christ—when we align our priorities with His call on our lives, enabling us to slow down and spend time on what matters the most. It enables us to rise above the distractions and pressures of daily life.
The passage in Galatians reminded me of our time together at Pam's house when we were all baptized. These words, "No longer slaves" have been such a powerful reminder through the years for our group. We have been FREED! This freedom not only liberates us from sin but also lifts the weight of our pressures and our burdens, allowing us to serve and love others despite our busyness.
It also talked about forgiveness and the power of God's forgiveness. When we experience the grace of God's forgiveness, we are reminded that those who are forgiven much love much. Our love toward others and for God should overflow from this understanding. In the midst of our hectic schedules, we can still find space to connect with and support one another. We have the Holy Spirit to guide our lives, helping us prioritize what truly matters, even when we feel overwhelmed. By focusing on love and service, we can navigate our busyness, creating opportunities to extend grace and kindness to those around us.
All of this leads us to grow the fruits of the spirit, fruits that will overflow to others, when we join our lives to His. We must know Him, love Him, remember Him, imitate Him. The result? We fulfill our purpose to love God and our neighbors. So, I challenge each of us to keep on doing good and trust God. In due time, we will all reap a harvest of blessing. If we plant to please God, we will experience JOY.
On another note, I thought it was cool to compare what we learned with Mrs. Joy over Passover at the synagogue as we read about the building of the tabernacle, and in 1 Kings, the temple—both built for the presence of God. So much of the same is still incorporated into their place of worship! God's home on Earth, filled with His glory.
It led me to think about the things in my own home that hold significance to my family, and the things that I have considered in my home FOR OTHERS, things that hopefully make it a welcoming and comfortable space for others to be, especially my own children. This study has encouraged me to pray the presence of the Lord into this space, over those of us who live here, but everyone who enters. I want our homes to be a place where God's presence dwells and where His love is extended to others.
Lots of good stuff in these passages—in Psalms 66-68, we're reminded that God is continuously refining our character. Even through trials, He brings us to a place of abundance. He is MERCIFUL and BLESSES us. We are to rejoice and be glad in Him and be filled with JOY.
Proverbs 2-3 speak to our need for insight and understanding, knowledge of God. He grants common sense to the honest, shields those who walk with integrity, guards the path of the just, and protects the faithful. I pray each of us will be filled with an understanding of what's right, along with our spouses and children, so that we will find the right way to go and this knowledge will fill us with JOY.
We are to TRUST in the Lord, be loyal and kind, and we will have FAVOR with God and people—the kind of reputation we want to have! Seek His will in all we do, and He will show us the path to take. Common sense and discernment will refresh your soul. I pray that we have all of this for our own lives and can pour it into the lives of others, so that we can honor God by how we HONOR others and have a rich and overflowing life. "Whatever you do, do it heartily."
We ended this week in Lamentations, which is, sadly, a lament. But it teaches us that in the midst of our grief and sorrow, we can find hope and trust in God's mercy, which offers restoration and renewal. Even though we sin, God's mercies renew every morning.
Here's what struck me most: His "hospitality" toward us isn't dependent on our perfection, but instead on His unwavering love and compassion toward us. And this is how we should live and love toward others.
It isn't just about having people over for dinner or keeping a clean house for guests. It's about hearts that are set free to love lavishly, to see clearly, to serve sacrificially, and to extend the same grace and mercy that God has shown us.
In this season of busyness and parenting, in the midst of our own trials and imperfections, we are called to be vessels of God's love. We are called to create spaces—in our homes, in our hearts, in our communities—where others can experience the same freedom, joy, and renewal that we've found in Christ.
Let's embrace this calling together. Let's be the kind of people who truly see others, who extend empathy and kindness, who listen with our whole hearts. Let's be proactive in our love, sacrificial in our service, and joyful in our giving.
The harvest of blessing awaits, and the joy of the Lord is our strength.