The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: TASTE (07/01/21)
How to Greet a Guest

I have never been a great hostess to those who have entered my home. I have spent countless hours cleaning my house so that no dirt could be spied by anyone invited. I even cleaned the top of the refrigerator for all those tall visitors! I hesitate to invite people in because my house cleaning skills are lacking for impromptu visits by others!

When I visit one of my dear friends, she always makes her guests feel like royalty. Upon your first visit to dine in her home, you are given a special red plate. You can drop by her house anytime and she will prepare an appetizer in a matter of minutes! I recently visited in her mother’s home. I understand how my friend is able to have these natural hospitality skills because her mother possesses them as well. How can I be like them?

Hospitality can be defined as a warm and friendly way to treat guests or strangers. Opening your home to show hospitality to unfamiliar people can be intimidating. What will I serve that they might eat? What topics of conversation will keep them entertained? Will they go and tell someone else what poor hospitality they received or will they share about what a wonderful time they experienced in my home?

One of my favorite Christian songs is “Come and Dine”. In the lyrics I feel Jesus calling me to come and spend time with Him in fellowship.

“Come and dine,” the Master calleth, “Come and dine”;
You may feast at Jesus’ table all the time;
He Who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine,
To the hungry calleth now, “Come and dine (Words and music : Charles B. Widmeyer, 1906.)

Offering your home and your time to others is an extraordinary opportunity not only to minister to others but also an opportune time to share your testimony of what Christ has done for you. Jesus sought to dine with strangers who were often sinners.
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.” Matt. 9:10 NIV.

Sometimes the sinners excitedly invited Him into their homes. Zacchaeus was saved after experiencing the shared fellowship with our Lord. How did Jesus learn hospitality? He created it for us to have fellowship with Him.

“ If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7 NIV

Followers of Jesus ministered to Him with sincere hospitality. Martha and Mary welcomed Jesus into their home on many occasions. Martha served Him meals and Mary often sat at His feet to talk with Him. The times spent in this home endeared these followers to Jesus through a close knit friendship.

We sometimes choose to only invite our close friends and family. They already know of our testimony and easily fellowship with us. Inviting others allows them the chance to experience the best of life. If we open our hearts enough to reveal our relationship with our Lord, they will see Jesus in us. Strangers and guests need to experience the hospitality of our witness. We need not hesitate to invite guests into our lives because we lack house cleaning skills. The Master will give us the skills. We need not fear the lack of conversation topics for our testimony can easily flow from us if we are in close fellowship with our God. Let’s hope that the guests we entertain will go out and share what kind of host or hostess we were to them. Because through their sharing others will receive the hospitality offered by our Savior and continue passing on the opportunity to be treated as a royal guest at the table of our loving Father.

“ Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Rev. 3: 20 NIV
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 291 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Sue Botte 
07/10/21
Some good advice, however, I fail to see how it ties in with the topic; perhaps I need to read it again. Keep writing.
Laura Manley
07/10/21
Your entry would make a good devotional - lots to discuss. I also wondered about being on topic, but I do think the various scenarios play into it - hospitality regarding what to prepare food-wise. I like this!
Bea Edwards 
07/12/21
I see how you utilized the topic in your discussion regarding thd words from this song you referenced and your hospitality theme.

“Come and dine,” the Master calleth, “Come and dine”;
You may feast at Jesus’ table all the time;
He Who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine,
To the hungry calleth now, “Come and dine (Words and music : Charles B. Widmeyer, 1906.)

Thank you for your encouragement to invite all to the table as our Master did!
Susan Dennis
07/12/21
Thanks for leaving your encouraging comments.
Arlene Baker
07/15/21
This story has a LOT of potential - and many reader can identify with it, as is. However, it is filled with telling, and little showing. To give the story more pizazz, try internal language as you clean your house. SHOW your angst as you clean the top of your fridge. Get your reader in there feeling the angst with you! Use internal dialog as you muse on the Bible stories. Let us, the reader, FEEL every emotion! As I stated before, almost all of us can relate to this story! God bless and keep writing!
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
07/16/21
I like where you're going with this, but the beginning is a bit dry as it's all telling. You could pull reader in by adding body language, thoughts, and dialog and active sentences instead of passive. Here's a quick example to show you what I mean: I scurry about the house trying to catch those fiesty dust bunnies,which seem to be reproducing even faster than real rabbits. While pausing to catch my breath, I mutter, "This is why I don't like to have people over. I'm never gonna manage to get everything done." I massage my arms. Dust bunny hunting makes my entire body ache.
I know this is great different than yours but wanted to show a way to showcase the conflict and build a picture for reader. You do a nice job transitioning to your interpretation. I can totally relate to your MC. I've health problems so keeping my house as neat as I'd like is really hard so I rarely invite people in. I find myself quite lonely at times. Your words have made me stop and think and in my opinion, that's one of the greatest things an author can do. Congratulations on ranking 6th in your level. The highest rankings can be found on the message boards.