Are you expecting visitors for Easter? Like me, do you go to a lot of effort to prepare for guests? How would you feel if Jesus said he was coming to your house today?
Do you know the story of Zacchaeus? He was a tax collector (read – liked by no-one). Zacchaeus was a short man, so he was unable to see Jesus when he passed through Jericho. So Zacchaeus climbed a tree. This would have made him look very silly. But Zacchaeus’ desire to see Jesus was bigger than his desire to be liked by the people. He must have been very surprised at what Jesus said when he walked under his tree:
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
Luke 19:5-6 (NIV)
How would you feel if Jesus said that he was coming to your house today? Would you be as glad as Zacchaeus to welcome him at once?
If Jesus Came to Your House by Lois Blanchard Sades
If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two –
If he came unexpectedly, I wonder what you’d do.
Oh, I know you’d give your nicest room to such an honoured guest
And all the food you’d serve to Him would be the very best;
And you would keep assuring Him you’re glad to have Him there –
That servicing Him in your home is joy beyond compare.
But, when you saw Him coming, would you meet him at the door
With arms outstretched in welcome to your heavenly visitor?
Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in,
Or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they’ve been?
Would you turn off the television and hope He hadn’t heard,
And wish you hadn’t uttered that last, loud, hasty word?
Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about?
And I wonder, if the Saviour spent a day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing the things you always do?
Would you go right on saying the things you always say?
Would life for you continue as it does from day to day?
Would your family conversation keep up its usual pace?
And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace?
Would you sing the songs you always sing, and read the books you read?
And let Him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed?
Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you’d planned to go?
Or would you maybe change your plans for just a day or so?
Would you be glad to have him meet your very closest friends,
Or would you hope they’d stay away until His visit ends?
Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on,
Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?
It might be interesting to know the things that you would do
If Jesus Christ in person came to spend some time with you.
What about you?
How do you prepare for guests?
Do you invite people to your home, or would you rather meet up somewhere else?
Would you describe yourself as a good host who welcomes visitors, or do you prefer to keep your home private and just for you?