Honoring God Through Hospitality

 오늘의 말씀

 

로마서 16:11-15 (쉬운성경, NASB)

 

11. 우리는 배를 타고 드로아를 떠나 곧장 사모드라게로 갔다가 이튿날, 네압볼리로 갔습니다.

So putting out to sea from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and on the day following to Neapolis;

 

12. 다시 네압볼리를 떠나서 로마의 식민지요, 마케도니아 지방의 중심 도시인 빌립보로 갔습니다. 우리는 며칠 동안, 그 곳에서 머물렀습니다. 

and from there to Philippi, which a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Raman colony; and we were staying in this city for some days.

 

13. 우리는 안식일에 기도처가 있을 만한 곳을 찾아 성문 밖 강가로 갔습니다. 우리는 그 곳에 앉아, 모여든 여자들에게 말하기 시작하였습니다. 

 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled.     

 

14. 그 여자들 중에 두아디라라는 도시에서 온 루디아라는 여자가 있었습니다. 루디아는 자주색 옷감 장수였으며, 하나님을 섬기는 사람이었습니다. 루디아가 바울의 말을 귀담아 들을 수 있도록 주님께서 그녀의 마음을 여셨습니다. 

 A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the thigns spoken by Paul.

 

15. 루디아와 그 집안 식구들이 다 세례를 받았습니다. 그리고 루디아는 "제가 참으로 주님을 믿는 사람이라고 생각하신다며, 저희 집에 오셔서 머물러 주십시오"라고 간청하면서 우리를 자기 집으로 데리고 갔습니다. 

 And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.

 

 

 

THROUGHOUT THE YEARS my husband and I have opened our home to strangers who needed a place to stay. Although our intent was to bless others through our hospitality, we were always rewarded by our interactions with our guests. We especially enjoyed a French missionary couple who came here to learn how to set up Christian radio stations in France and Africa. They spoke no English and we spoke no French, so their traveling partner interpreted for us. Another time we hosted a couple from Germany who were in our country for a church conference. I was delighted when the young man told me that no one ever took better care of him except for his wife and mother. I enjoyed four lively college students who spent hours worshiping and playing their guitars as they sat on pillows on our dining room floor. A man from a church two hours away stayed with us for two months while he worked in our area. He taught us how to make sweet gourmet popcorn long before it became popular. Hospitality isn't always easy or convenient. Sometimes it's expensive. Yet when we reach out to those in need, we are often surprised how interesting and fun our times can be. Opening our homes to others serves them in a practical way but it's also a spiritual act that honors God.

 

Judy Gyde

 

How might you reach out in hospitality to serve others?

 

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