Be hospitable not despicable

When I was a kid, baling hay and straw was a big part of my summer. I would go to different farms and put up hay for them. The pay wasn’t much but often times the ladies would cook lunch and bring it to the field. You learned to remember from year to year which ones brought you the best food!! Hospitality!! It’s a real thing! It’s a Godly thing!! In fact, the apostle John wrote about it in his letter to Gaius. In this letter he spoke of three men. Gaius, Diotrephes, and Demetrius. In those days, the apostles would travel from town to town helping build up the churches and help them learn the gospel. They relied on the hospitality of the churches. Some of the church leaders were very hospitable but others were jealous and didn’t welcome other leaders in. Diotrephes was one such leader. He even went so far as to spread malicious rumors about them in order to undermine their authority. Demetrius on the other hand was very hospitable. He was well spoken of. Even by the truth it tells us in 3 John 1:12. How do we welcome people into our churches? Our homes? Are we using what God has blessed us with to show hospitality to others? I know that when I had two people call me at the same time to go bale hay I would always pick the one that I remembered showed me the most appreciation for my work. How can we expect people to want to join us in following Christ if we are not showing them the love of Christ? Hospitable behavior is Christlike behavior!! Dear Lord, help us to be like Gaius and Demetrius. Let it be said of us that we are loving and hospitable!!
Love ya folks. Have a wonderful day!!