True story. A preacher drove a couple hours from home one Sunday morning to a neighboring city, where he was invited to preach a special series of lessons for a congregation that Sunday morning and evening. After the morning worship, the preacher anticipated that one of the members or families would talk to him about lunch and afternoon plans before the evening worship. To his surprise, one of the men gave him a gift card to a restaurant and a key to a hotel room that had been reserved for his use that afternoon. The message, although unspoken, could not have been clearer: “No one here really wants to spend any time with you today. Take this, go your way and we will see you at our next scheduled time to see you.”
Has the church today lost the joy and desire for hospitality? Christians are to be “given to hospitality” (Rom. 12:13), “without grumbling” (1 Pet. 4:9). Where is “brotherly love” today? We must “continue” in it (Heb. 13:1)! Where is “hospitality” today? We must not “forget” it (Heb. 13:2)! When was the last time you invited someone to spend time with you?