Hospitality And Recovery
Thursday July 4, 2019
Some of us in recovery lack the quality of being hospitable. We do not care to be around others. We give our attention to our own needs and have forgotten, or perhaps never learned, the social skill of thoughtfulness towards others. Our loving God created us to be in relationship with Him and with one another and we are out of sync with our humanness when we behave in other ways.
Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn’t play hide-and-seek with us. He’s not remote; he’s near. (Acts 17:26-27 MSG)
Although we may not vocalize it, some of us tend to think this way, “Why should God and others care about me when I really don’t care about them?” However, we are made to be hospitable and care for one another. Jesus gave us a commandment to love one another. This is not a suggestion. God knows what is best for us and He made us to live in community with one another.
This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. (John 15:12-13 MSG)
Going to a recovery meeting for the first time can be intimidating, but if we are warmly greeted by others we will be encouraged to stay. When attendees share their experience, strength, and hope with us, they are being hospitable, and desire that what they share will be of help to us.
Love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. (1 Peter 4:8-9 NIV)
Hospitality is the human way of caring for one another. It begins with one person helping another to find their way out of the maze of self-centeredness.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Sometimes I want to hide from others because of the guilt I feel about my past life. Help me to accept Your forgiveness and live in the dignity of being Your child. Help me to put Your Word and Your ways into practice. Help me to be hospitable as I share the experience, strength, and hope I experience in belonging to You. Amen
©2019 Partners in Hope
More information on this and other related topics @ http://www.partnersinhope.ca/life-with-god-in-recovery-resources/
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