Corona Devo 2034

My husband and I celebrated our wedding anniversary the other day.  I love walking down memory lane and remembering the events and emotions and food (weiner schnitzel!) of that day.  Sometimes on our anniversary, we will go out for dinner, and sometimes I make him a special one at home.  

But not this year.  

Our anniversary date happened to be the only date that worked-out for hosting a team dinner for our daughter's high school soccer team. 

You might think that feeding twenty-five young women at our house instead of enjoying a quiet dinner for two might not sound romantic or edifying to our marriage, but it was.  

After opening a few thoughtful anniversary gifts to each other, we got to work.  Him--putting folding chairs around the table and me--prepping mains dishes and sides.  

Him-- vacuuming the basement and me--organizing table cloths, silverware and cups.

I looked up to see him busily moving-on to his next task, and I fell in love all over again as we worked on God's next mission for the both of us: Team Dinner.

Just in case I had contemplated "to host or not to host" on this day, or any day...God confirmed the supper as I read the Bible earlier that morning.  

Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. ~I Peter 4:9

You might say, "What are the odds of that verse being in my daily reading on the day that we are "sharing our home with those who need a meal"?

But the Lord is so in tune with our lives (mine and yours) that He not only knows what is on our calendar...He knows what is in our heart!  

And God reminds us today of what is in His heart.  

Urgency.  

We were soon-to-have many young women gathered for goodies and giggles and gossip, but: "Do they know Me?" God asked through His Word:

The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. (8) Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. (9) Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. ~I Peter 4:7-9

Here were my anniversary-date verses.  Not verses on love and marriage (...I found the one my heart loves...  ~Song of Solomon 3:4), but (instead) verses on hosting a meal and loving others.  

Why?  

Because we don't have much time left to tell them.  The end of the world is coming soon (I Peter 4:7).

Are we praying for the unsaved people in our lives who remain enslaved to the world and its ways rather than having Jesus at the helm?  

Would we be willing to have them over for a meal, or to stay?  

"No", we say?

God (as far as I understand His language and tone) is not asking us about sharing a meal or a place to stay with those in need.

The verse is imperative.  God is commanding, requesting, instructing us to host someone.

Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. ~I Peter 4:7

But--who?

...with those who need... 

...with those who need of what?  

Attention?  Friendship?  Companionship?  Help?  Money?  Provision?  Nutrition?  Kindness?

Yes.  Yes to any and Yes to all and more.

Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. ~I Peter 4:7

~~~

But not just a meal!  Before God gets to the supper-situation, He has urgency in our awareness of the shortness of our time here on earth.  

And how should we spend it?  In earnest and disciplined prayer, and loving each other.

The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. (8) Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.  ~I Peter 4:7-9

We should be sharing our homes with those who need a meal, and we must be in prayer for them and showing love for them.

~~~

Back at the soccer team supper, I embarrassed our daughter. but I glorified my King by loving on the girls gathered for dinner and telling them about my Jesus, who is their Jesus too (whether they know it or not).  

I had to.

The end of the world is coming soon.  ~I Peter 4:7

But I wanted to, because sharing the truth and hope of Jesus to someone else is loving someone else.

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. (9) Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. ~I Peter 4:8-9

Will the girls that came over remember my pepperoni bread?  Or will they remember that one of the player's mom's went rogue and shared her heart about Jesus? 

Hurry up!  Plan your meal and invite the people that God puts on your heart or in your schedule.  

Why?

Because The end of the world is coming soon (I Peter 4:7).

Blessings, 

Sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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