Loving Jesus by giving and hospitality

Romans 12:13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Today’s live to love encouragement comes from Paul’s last thoughts regarding loving the saints—our brothers and sisters in Christ. An important aspect of loving with Jesus is meeting the needs of the members of the body of Christ. When Jesus separated the sheep and the goats, the sheep ministered to the needs of the body of Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 25:40 “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’” One of the things Jesus said that the sheep did was hospitality. “I was a stranger, and you invited Me in.” Anytime we share what God has given us to meet the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are serving the Lord. Paul obviously didn’t want the Roman believers to miss out on the blessing of loving in a way that clearly is acceptable to God according to His own words. Let’s also not miss that there’s a connection between prayer and contributing to the needs of the saints. We should not be surprised when we pray and ask God how He wants us to love Him, that the needs of our beloved family members would come to mind. As we hear these words, does the Holy Spirit bring someone’s needs to mind that we have the means to meet them? This verse encourages us that such an act of love with Jesus is a living, holy, sacrifice of worship that is acceptable to God. In light of the riches of mercy that we have received, we should consider it a privilege to open our homes to others who are in need of shelter and provision. This is another aspect of loving Jesus, exercising the gifts we have been given according to His mercies to the building up and benefit of the members of His and our body. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com