Week: Hospitality - having open hearts and open homes
Each day we will simply pray (P.R.A.Y.) together.
P: PAUSING to be still.
R: REJOICING with a Memory Verse and REFLECTING on some verses from the Bible.
A: ASKING God to help us and others.
Y: saying YES to God’s ways.
We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Pause
Loving God, You make Your home in our hearts. We are excited to explore more of what it means to open our hearts to the world.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Asaph
Matthew 25:35
Jesus said, ‘I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house.’
Matthew 25:35 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we are REFLECTING on a letter that Paul wrote to the church in Rome about how to live together as the Church – as ‘the body of Christ’ – in the world.
Read by Asaph
Romans 12:12-13
Be joyful because you have hope. Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times. Share with God’s people who need help. Bring strangers in need into your homes.
Romans 12:12-13 (NCV)
A little earlier in this same chapter, Paul describes the Church as a body – a body made up of many different, but equally important parts. And for this body to be healthy – for it to work well together – all of the parts need to be taken care of, especially the parts that are hurting, the parts that aren’t doing well.
That’s what Paul means when he says ‘share with God’s people who need help’ (v13a). It’s like he’s saying, look after each other in the Church. Care for each other.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: How can we look after each other and care for each other in our Church family or community?
Who do we know in our Church family or community that might feel hurt at the moment? Who do we know that isn’t doing very well? Which parts of our Church ‘body’ need some love and care?
Let’s quietly whisper our own prayers for them now.
And if it’s us that feels hurt, or if we’re not doing very well at the moment for some reason, let’s tell God about that now.
Loving Father, thank You that You promise to always be with us, to never leave us. And we know that You care for us too. As we give You the things that we’re feeling, we ASK You to comfort us and give us strength.
Before we move on, let’s think especially about the older people in our Church family or community – the older parts of the ‘body of Christ’ where we are.
Father God, we ASK You to show us how to love and care for the older people in our churches. We pray especially for those who are ill in their bodies – give them strength and health. We pray for those who feel lonely – comfort them and give them friendships. And we pray for those who are fearful – may Your peace be with them.
As we read the Bible again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit might want to say to us from today’s verses.
Romans 12:12-13
Be joyful because you have hope. Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times. Share with God’s people who need help. Bring strangers in need into your homes.
Romans 12:12-13 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord Jesus, we say YES to loving others and caring well for others. Help us to keep your body – the Church – strong and healthy and filled with love.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Matthew 25:35
Jesus said, ‘I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house.’
Matthew 25:35 (NCV)
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
Unathi lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, with her husband and 5 kids; and has a passion for seeing families thriving.
You’ll most likely find her homeschooling the tribe, reading, writing, or dreaming about the next DIY project.
She also loves good coffee, dark chocolate and hiking.
Asaph is 9 years old. He lives in Portland, Oregon with his younger sister Adelina, father and mother. He enjoys riding his bike, camping, reading, playing flag football and watching Bible Project videos. Asaph is kind and smart and loves hanging out with friends!
