21 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Day 13

Saturday, February 18
DAY 13: HOSPITALITY-FILLED GENEROSITY

READ
Matthew 9:9-12

REFLECT
Have you ever seen someone’s life radically transformed by the gospel? It is amazing! This person may have been one of those individuals who you thought would never come to Christ… but they did! And the transformation has been incredible!

Matthew was one of those people. As a servant to Rome, Matthew would collect taxes from his fellow Jews and often collect an additional “tax” for himself. However, when he encountered Jesus, his life radically changed. Jesus simply told Matthew to follow Him, and Matthew left his workstation (his booth) and followed Jesus. Then we read that Matthew hosts a party at his house with Jesus, His disciples, and His friends of ill repute. Matthew is being generous by opening up his house so that others could encounter Jesus just like he did. Matthew is an example of someone who generously used his possessions for the benefit of others.

Likewise, God has given us money and possessions we can use to generously express hospitality toward others. How can you use your possessions in a way that expresses generosity to others?

RESPOND
Spend time in prayer, following the Upward, Inward, Outward, Upward format.

Upward: Who God is; What God has done, is doing, will do

Inward: Who you are; How you live

Outward: Intercession for others

Today’s Prayer:
“God, teach me what it means to express generous hospitality to others. Help me not to be stingy and protective of my ‘stuff’ to the point where I can’t use them as a tool to be generous to others. As you give me all your heavenly riches, help me to generously give my ‘riches’ to others for their benefit. God, you have blessed Pathway immensely. Help us to be wise stewards of your blessings so that we can be generous to those we are called to reach.”

Upward: Thanksgiving and Worship