Given to Hospitality

From: More Heart to Heart: Godly Wisdom Woman To Woman By: Valerie Jean Hallowell

• 1 min. read • grade level: 7

“And He arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought Him for her. And He stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her; and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.” Luke 4:38-39³⁸And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. ³⁹And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them. (Luke 4:38‑39)

“Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.” Romans 12:13¹³Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. (Romans 12:13)

There is encouragement for us in this story of Peter’s mother-in-law. It isn’t a very long record, but I see a shining testimony here, and so did the Lord. He had it recorded in the Bible as a continual witness to this woman’s faithfulness. It is recorded in three of the gospels: Matthew 8:14-15¹⁴And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever. ¹⁵And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. (Matthew 8:14‑15), Mark 1:29-31²⁹And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. ³⁰But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. ³¹And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. (Mark 1:29‑31), and Luke 4:38-39³⁸And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. ³⁹And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them. (Luke 4:38‑39).

Have you ever been ill enough that you went to bed, only to lie there thinking of all the things you could and should be doing? Peter’s mother-in-law may have as well. We see that after Jesus healed her and the fever was gone, she got up and immediately began serving those in the house.

What I see here is diligence, hospitality, and care for others. We are told a cup of cold water given in His name will be remembered. The smallest thing we do in His name and for Him will not be forgotten.

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