Can I Stay With You?
Acts 16:11-15
From Troas we put out to sea and 
sailed straight for Samothrace.....( read more )
 
Years ago I met a man from South Korea at seminary in Saskatchewan. While making small talk I let him know I was from Ontario and if he ever found himself in the area he should give me a call. I think this is just something people say in passing, so I never expected to hear from him again, but I did. One day I got a phone call from this stranger as he and his whole family were in a van with all their belongings driving towards my city. He had no plan and no place to stay, but he needed help. He asked, rather boldly, "can we stay with you?"

When Paul and his team arrived in Philippi they met a successful business woman named Lydia who was leading a small group of gentile women who were praying down by a river outside the city gates. She and her friends were open to hearing about Jesus and responded immediately.  When we begin a relationship with Jesus things change in our lives. We recognize that living differently is the most common and critical result of an encounter with Jesus. We don't expect perfection, but we do expect change. For Lydia, she immediately opened her home to several strangers so that they could have a base in the city from which to carry out their ministry. Lydia practiced hospitality and demonstrated her new life in Christ.

Choosing to open our homes to others is a powerful demonstration of care and concern for others. Take a moment and consider who you would invite to your home for a meal. Would this person be part of your family? Would they be a friend, a coworker, or another family from your church? Would they be a family of 5 who you have never met? Most of us would be happy having people we know well to our homes, but what about strangers? 

The summer is a great time to invite someone into your home. Would you consider going outside of your comfort zone and offering hospitality to someone new in the next few weeks? You may be surprised at the conversation and the company. Inexplicably, my wife and I opened our home to the family in the van and they became new friends.

Prayer
Dear God, help me develop a spirit of hospitality. Give me courage as I step out of my comfort zone to invite others into my home, so that I can build new friendships and show your love to them through this act of care.

Tuesday (August 15): Acts 16:16-40
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