Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

I'm Arthur Jackson, and I've titled today's reading, Refreshed at Simon's House.

My trip to Simon's House was unforgettable.

Under the cover of a starlit sky in Niharu,

Kenya, we made our way to his modest home for dinner. The dirt floor and the lantern light

reflected Simon's limited means. What was on the menu, I don't recall. What I can't forget

was Simon's joy that we were his guest. His gracious

hospitality was Jesus-like, selfless, life-touching, and refreshing. In 1st Corinthians

chapter 16 verses 15 to 18, Paul mentioned a family, the household of Stephanos, who had a reputation for their caregiving.

They devoted themselves to the service of the Lord's people.

While their service likely included tangible things, the impact was such that Paul wrote,

they refreshed my spirit and yours also. When we have opportunities to share with

others, we rightly give attention to matters of food, setting, and other things that are fitting

for such occasions. But we sometimes forget that although the what and the where matter,

they're not the most important things.

Memorable meals are great and pleasant settings have their place, but food is limited in its

capacity to fully nourish and encourage. True refreshment flows from God and is a matter of the

heart. It reaches the hearts of others, and is a matter of the heart.

It reaches the hearts of others and it continues to nourish long after the meal is over.

Today's Our Daily Bread Devotional Scripture reading is from 1 Corinthians chapter 16 versus 15 to 18.

You know that the household of Stephanos were the first converts in Achaea, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord's people.

I urge you, brothers and sisters, to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it.

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