Use Hospitality 1 Peter 4:9

Peter the apostle told the “scattered” Christians “the end of all things is at hand”, and they were to “be sober and watch unto prayer”. He also told them they should “have fervent charity among” themselves because “charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” In chapter four and verse nine of his letter, Peter told the Christians to “use hospitality one to another” where we read:

Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

The verse begins, “Use hospitality one to another...” Peter began with the words, “Use hospitality” which means “be fond, pitiable and generous to guest” “one to another” or “toward, among and to each other, reciprocally and mutually”. The Christians were to be generous to one another and especially when they were “guests” of each other.

The verse continues, “...without grudging.” Peter added the manner in which they were to be “hospitable” to one another. He wrote, “without” which means “without one's will or intervention” “grudging” or “murmuring, muttering, having secret debate or displeasure that is not openly avowed”. When the Christians exercised “hospitality” toward one another, they were not to be murmuring or complaining about doing so.

When we meditate upon Peter's words, we may be inclined to mentally assent to them and not act upon them at all. Most people desire to receive from others rather than give. This is not to be among Christians. We are to exercise “hospitality” to one another, and when we give openly and freely to other believers, may we never be found to be complaining about our sharing. Let us allow the Lord Jesus to help us be “hospitable without grudging” “one to another”.

Next time Peter tells the Christians to “minister” to one another, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.