The

life of following Christ is not just about “me, me, me.” The

gospels challenge us repeatedly to devote our lives to living for

others. Jesus equates serving others with serving God.

All

too often, though, our lives become consumed by our own plans. Our

schedules may be filled with important, honorable things to do. Yet

we often risk focusing only on our own plans and missing out on the

opportunities God gives us to make room for others in life.

Matthew

repeatedly stresses that if we love God, we will inevitably love

others. In fact, if we don’t love others, our love for God is in

question. Love in action is not just for the people closest to us but

also for people who are marginalized, suffering, and in need. When we

care for such people, we are actually showing our love for Jesus.

For

many of us, the thought of showing hospitality tends toward shared

time with friends and family. But do we consider hospitality as an

active expression of our faith? The Bible calls us to “welcome the

stranger” and “practice hospitality.” More than making room,

hospitality calls for Christians to be ready even for the unexpected.

While our deeds of compassion and mercy are not the means by which we

enter God’s kingdom, they show that we are part of God’s family.