HOSPITALITY AND FELLOWSHIP. v. 22 Paul was imprisoned in Rome twice, so perhaps he was released shortly after writing this letter. He may have been able to go to Colosse before he was imprisoned again and then executed. The pronouns “you” and “your” in this verse are plural, making the whole assembly aware that he wanted to see them all. They would be united in praying for him to be able to come. Philemon would also be more motivated to do what Paul requested. It is not unusual to add another matter to a letter, something like “PS” that we use today. “One more thing” opens a new line of thought to those who read the letter, which would have encouraged them. By expressing his desire to see Philemon and the Lord’s people again, Paul opens our minds to the subjects of hospitality, fellowship, and prayer. Paul didn’t ask them to pray for him but took it for granted that they did. He expected to be released in answer to their intercession. We are not told in the Bible whether he was released, but the members of Philemon’s household would be united in love with the expectation that he would show up at any time. The prayers of the Lord’s people do not override God's sovereign purposes, but they do add a human dimension to divine plans and interests that make our understanding of matters clearer. Fellowship in prayer is not only with other people but also with God. It enables us to share verbally and intelligently about what God is doing in distant places through His servants. Hospitality. Next to the direct service of God is our duty to His children [1Jn. 5:1; 3::23; Jn.15:17; 2Pe. 1:7; 1Jn. 3:14]. We are to show love to the brethren. Love in words and deeds is evidence of being brethren and of a living faith. Showing hospitality to others is a privilege that opens doors of friendship and fellowship. Kindness shown toward others is never a wasted effort. Love for the unconverted may win their confidence. The Lord's character and the Gospel's message are often judged by the one bringing the message.
Our aim should be to demonstrate the Lord's love for us by expressing His love to others through our actions. For strangers, we offer benevolence and compassion; for our brethren, we share kinship and gratitude. Hospitality means creating an environment where others feel comfortable and at home with you. The people to whom we can extend hospitality include visitors to our assembly, lonely singles, and the needs of visiting missionaries.
Guests experience fellowship and friendship when we act as courteous, hospitable, and respectful servants, serving them as we would serve our Lord. Fellowship encompasses both union and communion, in both good and bad situations. Intimacy, revelation, and association are all parts of this connection. It is only right to help those who show kindness toward us. People value the practical interest demonstrated by the one who is the sent messenger of the Gospel. Remember, we represent our Master.
When we visit a home, we can share the truth with those present. They may be eager to learn the truths the Lord has taught and will listen intently to what the word of God conveys. Devotion to the Lord can often surpass service to Him. She didn’t let the distractions of meeting physical needs draw her away from addressing her spiritual needs.
We need to remember and practice this principle daily: the spiritual takes precedence over the physical. Meeting the needs of our soul and spirit is far more important than our body's comfort. Time spent learning about the aspects that affect our soul and spirit, which are eternal, is never wasted. As humans, we naturally respond more quickly to the physical needs of our body than to the spiritual needs of our soul and spirit.
Showing hospitality can become self-serving when our priorities are not in order. Being busy for the Lord is good, but it can easily devolve into mere busyness instead of true devotion to the Lord. “To know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His suffering, being made conformable unto His death,” is fundamental to worship, service, and discipleship.
Showing hospitality is good as long as we don’t compare what we do for the Lord to what others do when they listen to His words as devoted listeners. The Lord knows our individuality and motives in listening, learning, laboring, and serving. In a practical sense, elaborate hospitality is not needed as much as personal and meaningful communication with Him and those seated at our table. Food for the body is important, but food for the soul and spirit is far more significant. The former is short-lived, while the latter will endure forever. Spiritual hospitality and fellowship provide us with a satisfaction that goes much deeper than simply sharing a meal.
Another way we practice hospitality with Christian love is to share what we have with others of the Lord’s people who have needs they cannot meet. They may not speak of them, but by putting ourselves in their “shoes,” we can determine what they might need and how we can help them. Another way to help them and show our love as God intends is to make a point of practicing hospitality with an open and friendly disposition. Opening up what we have for their use, benefit, and spiritual health demonstrates love by caring for their well-being. The practice of love serves as a general principle when it comes to meeting the needs of others. People deserve their privacy, and we should refrain from advertising our generosity or our pursuit of hospitality. This is not merely a casual, occasional act of hospitality, but something we actively pursue, even towards strangers who may be angels. We all have the privilege of showing hospitality to others. It is one of the most positive and effective ways to express Christian love and values. This practice demonstrates the fellowship we share with one another, stemming from our connection with the Lord. Whether it’s a phone call, an email, or a knock at the door, we may suddenly find ourselves in a situation requiring immediate action. Is this an opportunity or an irritation? Is it a potential privilege or a painful interruption? Whether extending an invitation for someone to visit us or being surprised by a guest, our practice of hospitality shapes how we are perceived when we host others. This is one of the most impactful ways to show our love for Christ and His people. What we value and consider important in our lives reveals the significance we place on the things of God. Hospitality is a tangible expression of divine love demonstrated through God's children. Are people merely objects that pass before me, or do they possess infinite worth? Are they inconveniences when they enter my home, or are they as important to me as family members in the household of God? When hospitality becomes a habit, it is a blessing to be a blessing to others. We all have aspects of our lives that reflect our character. Hospitality is a duty among God's people, but it can be a delightful or grudging responsibility depending on where I place my values. People are always more important than things. The costs of hospitality are real in terms of time, labor, and money, but the benefits far outweigh the expenses and inconveniences. Our children may have to share a bed. The husband and wife may need to move to another room and sleep on a "blow-up" mattress, but the memories and friendships that result from showing hospitality are well worth the minor inconveniences. The fellowship, the captivating stories of distant places, and the influence of the Gospel on different people and cultures will stay in our hearts. As we deepen our understanding of the vast harvest field of the world, we will become more personally engaged with those laborers, individuals, and locations for which we pray. Our children are exposed to a broad perspective of the world and God's work through their parents’ tradition of hospitality. People who lead insular lives listen with wonder as our children share stories of visitors from Africa, Latin America, Europe, and other places in the world they only know about from geography books. "How do you know all these people?" they are asked. "They stayed at our house on their way to where they are missionaries or where they are going to preach." When this comes from our children to their friends and their friends' families, it adds significance to our children and their church and family life. The Christian life of faith reveals its great value when there is no distinction between those we know well and those who are strangers, as we sit at the same table, share the same meal, and discuss our common Savior and our "common salvation." "Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers: for some have entertained angels unawares." Friendship and faithful stewardship complement each other well. Some of the Lord's people in a local assembly may wonder, "Does anyone know I am here? Does anyone even care?" A little extra effort and a small amount of time can bless those who have been marginalized to some degree by illness, age, or the death of a spouse. We become partners in the work of the Lord when we have Gospel preachers, itinerant teachers of the word, and missionaries who stay with us. They can provide us with far greater insight into their labors for the Lord at our table than in a "report meeting." Widows may feel abandoned after their spouse passes away. Their reputation remains, though, when they have devoted themselves to "good works." A widow who has raised her children, housed strangers, and served God's people in her dedication to the Lord should not go unrecognized. She committed herself to serving the saints locally—"washed the saints’ feet and relieved the afflicted." Now it is our turn to reciprocate. Showing hospitality is never out of date. Young people need to feel accepted, and there is no better place to demonstrate that than in your home. Older individuals living alone require comfort and reassurance of their value to the Lord and His people. The best way to convey this is in your home. Fellow laborers in an assembly need an opportunity and a space to discuss matters of common interest and concern. The best setting for this is over a delicious meal at your table. Visitors who are just passing through often consider time spent at a welcoming home to be one of the highlights of their journey. Providing a place of rest, fellowship, and nourishment for the Lord's people is a privilege when we do it in His name, for His glory and their benefit. To "bring forward on their journey" indicates that hospitality does not end when the door closes after someone leaves our home. It means they are sent forth with the provisions they need to reach their destination and to assist them in their work. "A godly sort" means that they deserve our financial support and any other necessary assistance for their work to succeed. The concern and care demonstrate hospitality for those who are mistreated. The Lord said faithful followers would visit those in prison [Mat. 25:36]. Some have been called to take the Gospel to unbelievers in jail, and by His grace, God has saved some in that situation. When we suffer with sympathy, we become partakers with others who suffer [10:33] unjustly. Fellowship. For those who love "the truth," there is a special common ground of fellowship in the Christian life. This can be nurtured and encouraged through words of support. It is always appropriate to commend our brothers and sisters in Christ for their faithful service to the Lord in whatever area of life they occupy. Words of thanks and deserved honor always have a place in a conversation or letter when they are sincere and come from Christian love.
Fellowship involves sharing experiences rooted in a common purpose. Those who share a common faith and salvation will find much in common as they navigate life together, including their goals, hopes, joys, and even sorrows. The fellowship among believers with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit elevates this bond to its highest form. While our bodies are limited to physical sharing, our souls connect through the experiences of our senses. Our senses—touch, taste, smell, feel, and sight—allow us to deepen our connections with others.
When there is fellowship in the spirit, there are no limitations imposed by time, space, or matter. Our spirits soar to heights that go beyond mere expressions. Those seated with Christ in heavenly places can experience, with Divine Persons, righteousness, joy, peace, faith, power, love, and assurance that are not diminished by the circumstances of everyday life. Eternal life grants us the blessings of deep, everlasting joy that comes from loving God and knowing He loves us.
Christian fellowship is good and pleasant. It carries the spiritual fragrance of joy and gladness, which is both refreshing and satisfying. Fellowship resembles unity, which guarantees God’s blessing because He commands a blessing where brethren dwell together in unity. How blessed we are when happy and holy fellowship guides our worship and service to our Lord. In this way, we worship the Father “in spirit and truth,” fostering love for the word of God, for one another, for the Lord, and prayer.
There will be hearty cooperation, warm affection for one another, mutual interest in one another, and practical support. Oneness of mind indicates a common purpose, which is to glorify God. This does not mean we all have the same opinion about everything, but that we share the same objective in harmony with our brothers and sisters. Compassion, a sympathetic response to the needs and feelings of others, will drive me to meet those needs in the best way I can.
In the family of God, love for our brothers and sisters leads me to demonstrate that love by helping, encouraging, and supporting them. Fellowship inspires me to care for them with affection that is not calculating but spontaneous. Fellowship fosters courtesy, an attitude of humility that reflects Christ-like qualities. When another person succeeds, I rejoice with them and encourage them to pursue further achievements.
Leadership involves knowing what to do and doing it in fellowship with all those who work for the Lord. When we understand what God wants us to do, we are motivated to press on through setbacks, defeats, and discouragement. We do this through faith and with persistence, perseverance, and pain if necessary. Opposition is really "par for the course." The rewards come after the work is done, not if we stop halfway through.
Fellowship prayer, combined with careful thought and planning, is appropriate and aligns with meeting needs. Preparation and effort are also consistent with faith when we take time to consider the impact of our actions, or lack thereof. Look beyond the challenges of present circumstances to what is lasting and of greater importance. The next generation needs to understand that the truth of God is personal to us, and we hope it will be to them as well. This impact will arise when our lives and actions reflect our beliefs. They need to witness consistency and fellowship in our standards, principles, and practices. We must dedicate ourselves to truth and the work necessary to uphold that truth before our community. God's people require each other's support due to the threat posed by the spiritual enemies we face.
Fellowship with believers reinforces the necessity for unwavering faith in God and the confidence that our work has divine sanction. Practically and positively, fellowship among Christians encourages common sense in managing the work and addressing opposition. The final goal should be emphasized over the difficulties, though we cannot overlook them. We must not allow them to sidetrack us from the ultimate objective. Careful attention should be given to the details, thoughts, and concerns of those with whom we labor.
In the work of the Lord, not everyone approaches it with the same level of interest. Some may wonder, "What's in it for me?" Others might think, "I can't give up my paid vacation time for something like that." Still, others may ask, "How much an hour are you paying?" Conversely, some consider it a great privilege to freely offer their time and energy to work for the Lord, whether in the assembly, during Gospel outreach, or on a project in a foreign country where missionaries need their expertise. Those who volunteer to help complete a project for the work of the Lord and the benefit of others will discover the truth in the saying, "God is no man's debtor," when we labor in fellowship with others.
New believers, or individuals who have moved into an area from another assembly and wish to join the local fellowship, need to know they are warmly welcomed to share in the work of the Lord. The expectations of those in the assembly should be realistic. New believers are often unaware of what is expected of them unless someone informs and guides them regarding current activities. Do not expect them to perform tasks they are not capable of. Meaningful participation can begin with involving them in small tasks and gradually introducing them to more significant responsibilities. Those who are more experienced understand what to delegate and to what extent.
We need to remind each other of where we came from. We must remember who we are now and the Lord's coming. As we grow in faith and our relationship with God deepens, we can respond to the charge: "Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works." We should look for ways to encourage fellow believers to love and engage in good works. In our meetings, we share our faith and strengthen one another in the Lord as we worship, learn, and pray together.
Confirming loyalty and love is the most extraordinary grace we can offer a friend. The bonds of faith in God and in one another are incredibly strong. It is humbling to realize that what one says when asking a friend for a favor is as good as done. We all feel the pain of loss when someone is absent. Those who go to heaven are missed, yet we are happy for them. Christians can demonstrate their fellowship with others by showing the grace of God in their giving. External interests often address internal issues within the assemblies of God's people. Generosity shown through financial assistance is a practical example of fellowship. The motivation that binds believers is a shared concern for others, primarily when we reflect on the blessings we have received from others. The first act of fellowship is to give ourselves. Then, we give of what we possess sacrificially. Interest in the kingdom of God connects us with other believers and broadens our perspective to include the needs of God's people in different locations. Informing the Lord's people of a need does not mean soliciting funds. People are inspired when they understand how to contribute to the work and fulfill needs to the best of their abilities.
The Holy Spirit serves as the operational force behind a well-functioning assembly. Thankfulness naturally arises from the motivation of the Spirit of God. The Spirit promotes similar thoughts, leading us to intercede for others when we hear their faith and testimony. The joy and reflections of God's people foster fellowship and gratitude as we recall the moments when we first met. This fellowship in the Gospel involves remembering how God saved us. Furthermore, I cherish daily the constraining love that emerges when the Lord is at the center of our lives.
Remember when we sang together after we were first saved? What fellowship! What joy! What confidence in God! How thankful we are for God’s people, their fellowship in the Gospel, the life we share, the love-constraining fellowship, and the Lord Jesus, who is central to our fellowship! We have been saved by grace alone. God has opened the door to His household, making us sisters and brothers in Christ. His grace extends universally to all who will know and believe in "the Christ."
When we love the Lord Jesus, we will love the souls of men and share the full counsel of God with them. Holding back what needs to be said and what people need to hear is unfair, unfaithful to God, and unprofitable for us. Tears may be shed when we pray together. When one’s heart is openly poured out to our brethren, we become aware of God's presence among us. A powerful spiritual impact will affect everyone in that place and remain with them.