https://odb.org/2026/01/21/let-my-people-go-2
2 Kings 4:8–10, 14-17 (NIV): 8 One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. 9 She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. 10 Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.” 14 “What can be done for her?” Elisha asked. Gehazi said, “She has no son, and her husband is old.” 15 Then Elisha said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. 16 “About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord!” she objected. “Please, man of God, don’t mislead your servant!” 17 But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.
Up early, Sara wrote her to-do list for the day. But she was interrupted with a request from a young, struggling family. They desperately needed a gas card from church to be delivered to them. Sara was busy but knew God wanted her to do this. So she agreed to drop it off at the hotel where the church was having them stay for a few weeks. She got the card and checked the address—the drive was farther than she’d anticipated, so she complained to God, It’s going to take too much gas to get this to them! Sara sensed these words in her spirit: Haven’t I provided for you? She replied, Yes, God, You have. Forgive my attitude. When she arrived, she found the couple, gave them the card, and held their baby. Sara thanked God on her drive home for blessing her with this simple, yet joyful opportunity. (Anne Cetas, Our Daily Bread 21st January 2026)
Hospitality is one of those ministries that is powerful but often unseen. Mainly, I guess, because its proponents practice it in the background, away from public eyes unlike the pulpit or worship ministries. Like EJAE or Kim Eun-jae who composed and co-wrote the explosive song Golden. After spending more than 10 years as a K-pop trainee, she was cut and in her rejection (she called it redirection), she went into music creation and production and now after more than another 10 years has found fame not only as a music producer but a singer as well! Golden is currently trending as it secured 5 Grammy nominations and is known for its 3-octave range melody, at the bottom, D3 and at the highest, A5, sung in the key of G.
Do not therefore despise working at the backroom or in background ministries like hospitality, hospital or maintenance. No one may see but God always sees our hearts. 2 Kings 4 is special as the narrative zooms in on the wealthy Shunammite woman. She is unnamed but is the star of the story. She made a room specially for Elisha in her home for his frequent journeys between Jerusalem to Mount Carmel as he passes through Shunem. It was ancient Airbnb, except that it was free board and lodging! In this story, the LORD repaid the Shunammite woman’s kindness with a meaningful blessing of a child in an environment where the reigning diety was Baal, the Cannanite diety of fertility, rain and harvest. That is why ancient bible stories always speak about famine, rain, harvest and barren wombs.
The message this morning is to listen to the Holy Spirit and respond in hospitality, care and love to those around us, particularly, servants of God who had laid down their lives for Kingdom purposes. We may work in the background where no one may see or notice, but in all that we do, we do it for the glory of God! Amen!
Ronnie's Thoughts 