Hospitality for Christ!

3 John 1 (The Message)

 ^5-8Dear friend, when you extend hospitality to Christian brothers and sisters, even when they are strangers, you make the faith visible. They've made a full report back to the church here, a message about your love. It's good work you're doing, helping these travelers on their way, hospitality worthy of God himself! 

When i was Athletic Director at South Adams High School, I had a great mentor. Herb Resler "raised me" as Athletic Director. I am so grateful for his 5+ years of guidance. I literally new nothing about being an AD and he guided me through the entire process. I truly believe God placed us together so he could provide that guidance. One of the great lessons I learned from him was how important hospitality was. His fantastic wife, Fancheon Resler, is a wonderful homemaker. Every Friday Night home football game, she would provide food for our workers and officials. She is amazing. She would also completely organize hospitality for our Sectional and Regional tournaments. Herb would organize the office staff to provide for regular season home basketball games. 

When I moved back to Garrett, we continued the same tradition. My lovely wife Stephanie who also happens to be an amazing cook, has provided countless meals for Football, Basketball Coaches, Officials, and workers. I know our Coaches, Officials, and workers greatly appreciate this act of kindness. I wish we had time to do it for all of our sports. It is just too difficult to do this during the week. 

Why do we do it? We do it precisely because we don't have to! It is a part of our Christian service. Our Coaches, Officials, workers, visiting coaches and administrators barely have enough time to get home and back to school before a game. Many times they do not have the chance to get something to eat. So, my lovely wife plans out meals and snacks to help.  Not only have we done this for our own home events, but now it has grown to providing "Hospitality" for our Conference events, and the Semi-State Wrestling tournament. We don't do it for the praise. It would be so much easier not to do it. We do it as one of the ways we can put our Faith into action.  It is how we make our "Faith Visible". 

Put your faith in action. Serve someone when the only reason is because you don't have to! Don't do it for the great feeling you get, (you will experience this). Don't do it for the Thank You, (people are always appreciative). Do it for Christ! (When you do it for one of the least of these, you do it for him!)

Dear Lord, Provide us with the desire to service others. Help us to serve others, not from selfishness, but to share your Love. Help us to expect nothing in return and to enjoy the service just as we are serving you! Thank You for all your love, grace, and mercy. You don't have to Love us, but you do anyway! Amen!