Hospitality can be an act of celebration:
We are called to celebrate with others the ways that God has blessed them in their lives in addition to us in our own lives. God has shown us love, grace, and generosity in our own lives and we need to share that with others as an overflowing of the gifts that God has given us.
Romans 12.10-13: “10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”
Celebrating the Gospel:
We have more that is worth celebrating than anyone else on Earth! We serve a risen savior who gives us a future hope to look forward to: the day that He will return and we get to spend the rest of eternity with Him.
Celebrate when appropriate and recognize opportunities:
Ecclesiastes 3.1-4: “1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance”
Be mindful of the various seasons of life and to respond appropriately to each of them. Paul also writes along a similar thread in the book of Romans. Romans 12.15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
Celebrate the big things and the little things:
Rejoice in the big things (marriages, graduations, births, salvations, etc.)
Parable of the lost sheep: Luke 15.4-7: “4 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
Parable of the lost coin: Luke 15.8-10: “8 Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Parable of the prodigal son
Rejoice in the little things (time spent together with friends, meals, daily blessings):
Ecclesiastes 2.24-25: “24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25 for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?”
Acts 2.42-47: “42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” This passage is essentially one big celebration!
Make it a regular practice to be joyful and celebratory throughout your daily life.
The apostle Paul shows us an excellent example of how to rejoice and celebrate in suffering.
Philippians 4.4: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”
