Do

you know what a quid

pro quo mindset is? It means “I will do something for

you that equals the value of what you do for me.” Jesus has a

dramatically different picture in mind when he talks about

hospitality.

When

we think of throwing a party, we tend to include people we like and

who are like us. But Jesus presses us to reach out toward the fringes

of community life. This kind of outreaching love and care is what

distinguished the early church from its surrounding environment.

Two

attitudes that are vital to Christian character are generosity and

humility. Nurturing both in your life helps guard against a

destructive and blinding mindset that ignores the needs and

circumstances of others around us. Something as ordinary as sharing a

meal is an expression of respect and equality. It includes sharing

not just our resources but also ourselves, and it speaks loudly to

our values and commitments.

We

are all recipients of God’s grace and provision. We are all guests

at his table, and God, our Host, is abundantly generous. Look for

opportunities to be outrageously generous to people who least expect

it and who are least able to reciprocate. A sign of humility involves

wanting to help others when you would gain nothing from it.

How

can you go out of your way to bless someone today?