RADICAL HOSPITALITY

Story by: Charlene Quast

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born
of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is
love. In this way the love of God was revealed to us, that God sent His only begotten
Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love: not that we loved
God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we must also love one another. No one has seen God
at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and His love is perfected in
us. We know that we live in Him, and He in us, because He has given us His Spirit.
1 John 4:7-13 (MEV)

When our pastor Marty preached a sermon entitled Radical Hospitality on 1 John
4:7-13, my heart was moved and I knew that I wanted this to be applicable in my
life. I knew that I was friendly, giving and hospitable, however what was radical
about my form of hospitality?
Although I wasnt actively searching for an occasion to show radical hospital I was
willing if God gave me an opportunity. And then one day He did. with a lady in a
wheelchair. All I did was open the door so that she and her husband could exit. The
wheel chaired -bound lady pointed with her clenched fist at my red purse. She made
guttural sounds and continued to point at the handbag. Her husband said, "She likes
your red purse." as he passed by me. Her eyes were a definite giveaway to Gods
calling. After getting my take-out, I noticed her husband had safely placed her in
her car seat. Quickly I ran to my car and emptied my bag. As I approached the van, I
extended the red purse to give to her. At first her husband told me, No. He was
returning her to the nursing home and said she would have no use for the purse.
He also added that she could no longer speak. But her eyes were smiling and those
guttural sounds came back even louder. For a second I thought maybe she was
going to actually say a word. She beamed with tears in her eyes and a smile on her
face as her husband finally took the red purse and handed it to her.
The happiest of all was not the receiver of the gift but the giver of the gift. Me!
God used me! My heart was overflowing with His richness. I saw God that day in a
woman in a wheelchair and was so grateful that I responded to the call of showing
radical hospitality.
Sweet Jesus,
Thank-you for giving us the greatest gift of all, your life. Help me each day to give
radical hospitality to those around me, so that I can do your work.
In Your Name I pray,
Amen