Hospitality: A Biblical Perspective
By: Anne Linch / The Lamppost Cottage
As Jesus journeyed with His disciples toward Jerusalem, they came to a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home (Luke 10:38, NLT). This simple moment holds great significance, showing Jesus’ willingness to participate in the everyday act of hospitality. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is often found dining in the homes of others. But why is this act so impactful? What is it about the home and sharing a meal that brings people together in a way that nothing else can?
I believe that hospitality is a divine gift—one that allows us to reflect God’s love through our actions. Opening our homes to others is not just an act of kindness; it is a way to live out the love that Christ calls us to show. My husband often quotes a great leader he once heard: “A strength is not just something you are good at, but something that gives you energy when you do it.” Hosting dinners, events, and gatherings energizes me in ways few other things do. While others might find it draining, I find great joy in the act of hospitality.
Maya Angelou famously said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I agree wholeheartedly with this. Hospitality is not about what we say, but about what we make others feel in our presence.
When I invite people into my home, I want them to experience:
Being Wanted: Before they even step inside, I want them to feel they are welcome and appreciated. A simple hug or a warm greeting says, “You are wanted here.”
Peace: As they enter, I pray they sense a calm that only God can provide. In a world filled with noise and stress, hospitality offers a moment of rest—a chance to breathe and enjoy the present.
Being Seen: I want each guest to feel seen, valued, and recognized for who they are. Whether it’s through personalized touches like name tags or a small thoughtful gift, I want them to know their presence matters.
Being Known: Ultimately, I hope my guests feel like family—not just visitors. I want them to know that they are not only seen but truly known and loved with all their heart.
For me, hospitality is a tangible expression of love. While I am by nature an introvert and sometimes struggle to express myself verbally, opening my home allows me to “show” what words sometimes fail to convey. God has blessed me and my family in so many ways, and I pray we steward our home well by using it to bless others.
When people pull into our driveway, I pray they sense that our home is more than just a building. It’s a place of refuge—a “lighthouse” offering peace from the storms of life. I hope that, when they leave, they feel renewed and encouraged. Most importantly, I pray that when people visit, they leave knowing that our home is a place where Jesus Himself would have felt welcome.
The Bible reminds us in Hebrews 13:2 to “show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Hospitality is a sacred act, a way to extend love and grace to others as Christ has done for us. My prayer is that our homes would be places where others feel the love of God and experience His peace through our actions.
–Anne Linch
About the Author:
Anne Linch has been happily married to her wonderful husband, Mike Linch, for 33 years. Mike serves as the lead pastor of NorthStar Church in Kennesaw, GA, and has always supported Anne’s creative and often adventurous ideas—like clearing out the entire first floor of their home to make space for tables. Together, they are proud parents to two grown children, Casey and Mary-Michal, who are married to Kelsey and Jin, respectively. In November 2024, Anne and Mike joyfully welcomed their first granddaughter, Josie Anne “JoJo.” Anne’s family motto, “WE LOVE,” serves as a reminder to love like Jesus, through both the easy and challenging moments of life.
Connect with Anne Linch
Instagram: @TheLamppostCottage
Photos provided by: Anne Linch
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4 responses to “Hospitality: A Biblical Perspective”
Thank you to Ann Linch for sharing this perspective. And thank you Southern Hospitality Company for allowing this kind of perspective on your site. You both are blessings to a world that needs you.
When we moved to a new town, our neighbors immediately made us feel at home. They invited us to dinner, included us in activities, and made sure we were settling in okay. Their sense of community and openness to newcomers reminded me of how Christ welcomes us into His family with no conditions.
I love hosting in our home, I know that not everyone likes to host but I, like Anne, am energized by it. It brings me joy. Plus knowing guests are coming over kicks my butt in gear to finish projects or clean a little deeper :).
Ann,
I relate to this on so many levels. I too
am an introvert. My husband not so much he is quiet the social butterfly. But when I host people I feel as though I am doing what God has called me to do. I love serving others. Our daughter is in a small discipleship school that is local where we live and I love hosting her class a lot of them are far away from their family and I want to have a safe place away from campus they can come and relax. Our house was hit by a microburst 2 years ago and we had to have it completely remodeled. We did so with hosting in mind. We changed the lay out and the paint colors. We/I wanted people to feel peace and refuge when they came in… I wanted it to say welcome home. You post was a reminder of that for me. Thank you so much. Much love to you, your family, and your ministry!