A Little Me Time
I do love to finish my day alone… A little Netflixing, some Youtube, Read, flip through social media, whatever as long as it is me time.
You have that same problem, don’t lie. A little you time is always a good thing.
But I have noticed that for myself and most every other person we have lost an art. An art that other societies still have, past generations thrived in this art. The art of hospitality. Don’t worry I'm not going to be talking about table covers and centerpieces (I might wear skinny pants but it ends there). I want to talk about community, sharing life together, encouraging others, THE CHURCH.
Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. 7 For they are traveling for the Lord,* and they accept nothing from people who are not believers.* 8 So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth. (3 John 1:5-8)
John starts this book off by speaking directly to a man named Gaius. He is writing to encourage Gaius over his hospitality and care of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. He uses the word teachers, don’t let this word get you off the hook because you don’t preach/teach. We are all called as the Church to go and share the good news, that our lives would be an image of God’s great love.
Relationships cannot thrive without consistent communication and interaction
Hospitality is a lost art in the modern day church. We would do well to invite more people for meals, coffee, anything. We as a society have become complacent and comfortable going about our lives only seeing other brothers and sisters in Christ on weekends. Relationships cannot thrive without consistent communication and interaction.
How can you support others? How can you take your relationships with others to a more genuine and significant level?
I really do believe that if we begin DOING LIFE TOGETHER our lives, our brothers and sisters in Christ and our communities will explode with the true beauty of the church and what it means. I know this can sound a little hippie but what if we stopped going about our lives in a daze and we began living with the mindset of others?
My next meeting has no meaning unless it involves other people
I try to remind myself that people always come over production. People and relationships are more important than the next task. My next meeting has no meaning unless it involves other people.
I am by no means good at this… I struggle with this all the time. I love to move on to the next thing, fast paced, go. But I have realized that my relationships with others have been hindered because I haven’t valued them.
So, invest in the people God has placed you around. Just meet up for a cup of coffee, walk with a neighbor around your hood, Invite others to your house for a cook-out (invite me too!). What if this next season of your life you made a priority to invest in those around you? You will never regret investing in others. But I guarantee you will regret Netflixing for 6 hours straight, you got problems (I got those problems).
So who are you inviting over, meeting up for breakfast, walking with? Make a plan of it now or it will never happen. I have a reminder every 2 weeks to schedule a time for someone/family to come over to my house and fellowship. Maybe you need to make it more of a priority, reminders, alarms, whatever as long as it happens.
Let’s be like Gaius and start being the Church in our homes and neighborhoods.
Share the Love
