By Pastor John Mateos Ong
When I was a child, I was very annoying. I bugged everybody around me. I would call random people on the landline and look for random people until the one who answers gets annoyed.
Most of the time, we are strangers in our own house. Some have been attending the church for a very long time and yet, they do not know the people around them. We go to church primarily for Jesus. Will you still attend church if you did not like the people there? But it would be better if you feel appreciated. Open House is about hospitality. If the church is your Father’s house, you should feel at home in it. Do you feel at home in Rev?
Numbers 18:22 says, ““From now on, no Israelites except priests or Levites may approach the Tabernacle. If they come too near, they will be judged guilty and will die.” If you read the entire Old Testament, you will see how umworthy we are and how it is so difficult to be right in the eyes of God. What if this verse is still applicable today? Everybody would be dead. Why do we have to read the Old Testament if it is not applicable anymore? But if you read the entire Bible, the Old Testament will makeyou appreciate the New and you will value what you have right now.
What makes us unworthy? According to the Old Testament:
The inability to keep all the commandments - Deuteronomy 28:15 says, ““But if you refuse to listen to the Lord your God and do not obey all the commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overwhelm you:” if you disobey one commandment, you disobey them all.
The purity laws - Numbers 19:22 says, “Anything and anyone that a defiled person touches will be ceremonially unclean until evening.”” You may obey all the commandments but if you even touch something that is unclean, it is as good as disobeying them all.
Not born into it - Ephesians 2:11-12 says, “Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.” You cannot claim the promises of the Israelites because you are not one.
We ar unqualified but what happened?
Luke 23:39-43 says, “One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”” Even if we are unworthy, because of what Christ was done, He accomodated us in heaven. Jesus opened up heaven for us through His death and accomodated us even if we are not worthy. Jesus saw a loophole in the Old Testament laws. He can fulfill the law but He could also practice love.
John 13:34-34 says, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”” Being hospitable means showing love to God and to others. How much does Jesus love you? To the point of death. He loves you so much that He was willing to die for you. Jesus suffered for you. He gave up royalty not to live a good life her eon earth but to suffer for you. That is the level of love you should give to your neighbor. If you can’t do that, you are simply a follower through your mouth.
Application
Welcome strangers - Hebrews 13:2 says, “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!” There are no strangers in this world. Only friends you haven’t met.
Joyfully serve - 1 Peter 4:9 says, “Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.” Every time we serve others with a smile, we are reflecting the character of Christ.
Give hope - Isaiah 58:7 says, “Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.”
Shared lives - Acts 2:46 says, “They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—” Whenever we eat together, walls are torn down.
Radically love - John 32-36 says, “Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.” Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me.” What difference does it make if you only love those who love you? When Jesus died on the cross, did He first make sure that you are going to accept Him? No. The Bible says, while we were sinners, He died for us; whether or not we believe in Him.
Can we be a hospitable church? The biblical way? As we become just that, may we be more like Jesus in every way.
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