“Mango Rain” Hospitality

When we lived in Guinea, West Africa, we witnessed the beauty of

hospitality. There’s even a proverb that states: “An unexpected visitor is

like an unexpected rain.”

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We lived through two seasons each year: six months of rainy season, and six

months of dry season. We always loved the mango rainsthe rare,

unexpected downpours that came out of nowhere during dry season. Children

could be seen running through the rain, fully dressed, laughing with

delight.

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Hospitality comes more naturally to some of us than it does to others. When

you hear a knock on your door, but you’re not expecting anyone, how do you

respond? Does it make you excited, or do you find yourself thinking

something like: Who could that be at this hour? Did anyone call to say

they were coming? Everyone hide and be quietmaybe they will go away!

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In the Bible, God repeatedly calls His people to practice hospitality.

Thankfully, He also gives us the ability to do so through the Holy Spirit.

So, how can we practice hospitality? The Greek word translated

hospitality in the Bible is “philoxenia,” which basically means loving

strangers because Philo=Love and Xenia=Stranger. Not at all

like “xenophobia,” which means fear of strangers or outsiders!

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In Matthew 25, Jesus says that when He returns bodily to earth, He will

commend His people for inviting Him in when He was a stranger. But when

they ask, Lord When did we see you a stranger and invite you in ?

(verse 37-38), He will answer, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one

of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (verse

40). So, when we welcome strangers (or outsiders), we show our love for

Jesus!

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As Christians, we can show hospitality to others because God has shown the

greatest hospitality to us. Through Jesus’s death and resurrection, God

has welcomed us into His family! Though we used to be outsiders and

strangers, we are now fellow citizens with God’s people (Ephesians 2:19).

From the abundance of love that God has given us, we can share with others.

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When you think of practicing hospitality, think of this picture: children

standing in the rain, arms out, heads back, eyes closed, mouths opensheer

joy! Daniel Dore

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Can you think of a time someone showed you hospitality

or philoxenia? What did they do?

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According to today’s Bible passages, what might it look like to practice

hospitality?

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Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans

12:13 (NIV)

Read Verses:

Leviticus 19:34; Romans 12:9-Romans 12:13; 1 Peter 4:8-1 Peter 4:10