The Guest Book
I was raised by parents who practiced hospitality. We hosted missionaries and itinerant preachers. Sunday afternoons often brought friends from church for a bowl of soup, or a fresh-grilled hamburger. Because we lived in the shadow of Dulles Airport, we often kept travelers waiting for an early morning flight. I am blessed today to have a wife with a love of hospitality. I say that gratefully, not boastfully, as my life has been enriched by the guests who have passed through our doors.
Not long after our daughter was born, I began serving with a missions agency. Our home had a guest room, and many people came our way. Some stopped in for a cup of coffee. Some for a meal and an overnight stay. A few stayed for weeks at a time. I wanted my daughter, and then my son, to be able to look back and see how blessed we were as a family, so we bought our first guest book.
“Through the ministry of hospitality, we share the things we value most: family, home, financial resources, food, privacy, and time. In other words, we share our lives.” - Alexander Strauch
Romans 12:13 reminds God’s people, “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” At first glance, our first thought might be of the cost involved. Alexander Strauch puts it this way, “Through the ministry of hospitality, we share the things we value most: family, home, financial resources, food, privacy, and time. In other words, we share our lives.” Hospitality is pricy, but the rewards overwhelmingly outweigh the costs.
Relationships are the wealth of hospitality. I recently pulled our first guest book off of the shelf where it is stored. The ink is faded, the cover is worn, and as I flipped through the pages, I was overwhelmed by God’s goodness to our home. I saw the signature of Bro. Peter from Peru, whom the Lord used to move me into full-time ministry. I came across the name of Bro. George, who is more than just a ministry partner. He is a beloved brother, who flew from Malaysia for the wedding reception of my son and daughter-in-law. My grandma signed our guest book, as did my grandpa, and my father-in-law, all of whom are with the Lord now.
Our guest book contains the names of people whom I honestly don’t remember at all. I can’t picture them. I don’t remember the circumstances of their visit, but they blessed our home. Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Could it be that our home has been graced in a way that we don’t even realize?
A few of the friends listed in our guest book have failed in ministry. Some, to my knowledge, are no longer serving the Lord. Our guestbook contains warning and has been stained with tears. At the same time, our guest book holds words of encouragement and memories that still cheer our hearts today. It contains the names of missionaries serving in some very hard places. Reading through it reminds me to pray, reminds me of the cost of faithfulness. It reminds me that I can be faithful.
You may never host an international visitor, or an overnight guest (but then again, you might). Perhaps you will never receive a long-term guest. Let me encourage you to start somewhere, though. Buy a guest book. Fix a pot of coffee. Invite someone over. Immediately your life will be richer.
