Hostile or Hospitable?

Hostile or hospitable…?

The word hostile is of or relating to an enemy, openly opposed, or resisting.

Hospitable can be defined as generous and friendly treatment of others, warm, welcoming, inviting and accepting.

Prejudice is a feeling of dislike for a person or a group because of race, sex, religion, ideas, opinions, etc… It becomes an irrational hostility, a preconceived judgment, opinion or leaning formed without just grounds.  It is a stand to reject, refuse to accept, consider, submit to, or take for a purpose. It becomes a placement of blame, finding fault with, even censuring, holding responsible, and condemning.

This just gets me to be thinking about Matthew 7…And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

It makes you stop to think about when we encounter someone, and we get our underwear all in a bundle… that moment when our hearts get all stirred up… 

In that moment when we can either cast blame, or look at what God has brought to the surface in our heart.  We can agree with God, take responsibility that we have sin in our hearts, we are wrong and repent, turn away from it and receive and accept His grace from Him  …Or, reject, cast blame, form a  judgment, have irrational hostility, and ultimately become prejudiced in that area.

Sometimes, we are hostile towards others, sometimes, we are hostile towards ourselves. Either way, we are then hostile towards God.

What is it that we are so afraid of that we feel the need to put a barbed wire fence around our very own heart?  What is it that has made us reject the beauty of the Creator of the Universe, and His grace?    Our quality of life now and forever can only be limited by our knowledge and misunderstanding of His nature and His purposes…Simply put, if we are so prejudiced, we then chose to be lead away from His joy, His life, and His peace.

In that place of stirring, at the crossroads we can choose to walk through, or we can set up walls…we can choose to let it be an opportunity for freedom, or for bondage. He is for us and not against us…He goes before us and promises to make the crooked places straight, breaking in pieces the gates of bronze, and cutting the bars of iron…

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:1-3

Do we have a hospitable heart?  A heart of hospitality is one that is open. How welcome is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in our hearts today?