14.1 The incarnate grace of hospitality

The “incarnate grace of hospitality” that pervades all of Signpost Inn Ministries is, briefly put, a foretaste of the feast to come.

Dear Reader, you may have noticed that this week’s chapter number does not follow our previous chapter. That’s because, during this creation phase of writing our book, we believe it’s best to be writing anything, rather than be beholden to writing the “next” chapter. If you get lost, you can always refer to the Table of Contents which will be updated periodically.

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What is grace?

Grace is real. It isn’t indulgence, or leniency, or turning a blind eye to little sins and failings. It isn’t even big mercy, forgiveness or gentleness. And it certainly doesn’t originate in the human heart. Let’s not hear again, “we just need to have a little grace for her, she didn’t really mean it.” Grace isn’t little. Grace is big; it is real and specific.

When I was a kid in Sunday School (which is actually a really big deal - read my section on vocations in this book), there was a poster on the wall with the acronym G. R. A. C. E. in bright colors. “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense”. A small way to teach a huge, pivotal truth. When we spoke of GRACE, we meant the dismissing of all charges against humanity because Jesus has satisfied what the Law required. We meant our status as sons and daughters of the King. Not in a cute way. Heirs and heiresses JUST AS MUCH AS JESUS of eternal, physical, glorious life. We meant freedom, utter freedom. Freedom from shame. I am guiltless. Freedom from fear. I am defended. Freedom from anxiety. I have nothing to lose, nothing to risk. 

Grace, won by Jesus, is innocence, dignity, freedom, security, serenity. How enormous does this word become? 

My act of hospitality is God’s loving presence with you in the world.