Living in the Spirit

July 4, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Mark 6:1-13

He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, ‘Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.’ So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. –Mark 6:7-13

Wearing a second tunic might be necessary if sleeping outside on a cold day. This requirement for the trip was most likely to inspire the disciples to develop positive relationships with the people they encountered. Such an assumption sounds strange to us today. We would be more apt to purchase a motel room for an unexpected guest. Hospitality in the Middle East is far more like family. One of the things I enjoyed the most about my trip to Turkey a few years ago was the level of hospitality. Jesus was encouraging even more than the basic hospitality. He was asking the disciples to build relationships through the exchange of hospitality.

My rural background may be closer to that type of hospitality. My little church could not afford a full-time pastor. We routinely hired either a seminary student or one of the professors at the Christian Church Seminary located 50 or so miles from the church. Part of their contract was providing dinner at noon and a place to rest and perhaps study until the Sunday evening service. Everybody in the church was expected to sign up for their fair shares of the Sundays. Our days at my house for hosting the pastor were big deals. We got out the best China and sometimes literally killed the fatted café or at least a hen. It was an amazing time for the pastors to get to know their flock. I experienced times like that when I served at a church sitting in waiting rooms with family members while a loved one had surgery. One can learn a lot about love and loss and gratitude while waiting to hear good or bad news.

Hospitality is an art, not a science, and is conveyed through sharing learning more about others. We need that more than ever in our society. Because of the busyness of our lives, we must be very intentional in reaching out to others to provide hospitality. It is more than worth the effort.

Prayer: Lord, help seek out ways to provide hospitality in all aspects of our lives. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.