Topic: Hospitality [DCLM Daily Manna 9 October 2020 Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
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Text: 2 Kings 4:8-17 (KJV)
8 And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.
9 And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.
10 Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.
11 And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there.
12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him.
13 And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.
14 And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.
15 And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door.
16 And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.
17 And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.
Key Verse: “And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son.” – (2 Kings 4:16)
MESSAGE:
The story of the Shunammite woman is a classic example of sowing and reaping. It follows the pattern of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. Their eventual conceptions were a direct consequence of their show of hospitality to men and angels of God. While Sarah treated some angels of God to a sumptuous meal, the woman of Shunem, not only housed the prophet of God and his servant, she also fed them.
Also See: Open Heaven 9 October 2020 – Heaven Rejoices
The woman in our text did not show hospitality to Elisha because she was expecting something from him in return; she chose to do a good deed to the glory of God. She was not so discouraged by her childless condition as to jettison her love for God and his servants. She knew that in all situations, we must give thanks to God. It was this good attitude of hers that purchased her the divine favour.
Some believers wear long faces when they have visitors. They find it very difficult to entertain people; the Scripture enjoins us to form the habit of taking good care of our visitors, even strangers, because some people have entertained angels unawares. Our attitude to strangers shows the kind of Christianity we practice. We cannot claim to love God while we remain hostile to others. Unfortunately, this is the lot of many Christians today.
As believers, we must not allow ourselves to be weighed down by current circumstances that we are drained of the joy and desire to serve God. We should always cast our care upon Him who alone cares for us. While we look up to God for divine intervention, we must continue in our service to Him. We must always realise that faithful is He who has promised, who also will do it. This should prompt us never to be weary in well doing for we are bound to reap in due course, if we faint not.
Thought For The Day: He that watereth others will also be watered.
The Bible In One Year: Isaiah 13-17
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
