Welcome In

 

Inviting someone into our home is something I always look forward to.  It may not always be the neatest home when a guest arrives, but that does not stop me from saying “Come on in!”  Whether someone is coming over with intent or just quickly visiting, I always enjoy saying those three words, come on in.  Once in, there is always an offer of, “Can I get you something to eat or drink?”  This does not mean I have something readily available if it was a surprise visit, but there is always toast and PB&J!

The vision of today’s verse makes me happy and warm all over.  The physical nature of this verse is what excites me.  To have Jesus knock at my door, looking to come in to have a meal with our family?  As they say, Priceless!  Now here is where I admit my gap!  If Jesus showed up, either planned or unplanned, I am almost certain that my inner ‘Martha’ would come out and I would race around to see what I could offer.  Of course, there’s always spaghetti, right?

Welcoming Jesus into our lives, into our home, does not mean we always have to have all our ducks in a row or be ‘ready’ to say, “Come on in.”  If we wait to invite Jesus into our lives, our home, until we are the flawless Christian, Jesus will have an exceedingly long wait.  We will never be fully prepared.  We will never be fully faultless to have Jesus see us as the perfect Christian.  Good news all!  That is not what Jesus expects for us to invite Him into our lives.

Jesus wants us to say, “Welcome in,” regardless the state of our heart and mind.  He just wants to be invited into our lives. He wants to come in, sit at the table with us (the communion table), and let us know that when we are filled with the body and the blood, we will have eaten well, and we will be full.  That can only happen when we say to Jesus, “Come into my life, my heart and my soul.”  Once we do that, our sins are forgiven and we can eat at the banquet table, both on earth and in heaven.

My friends, when Jesus is knocking at your door to come in and have a meal, always say “Yes”!!  Our houses and our hearts do not have to be immaculate.  We do not have to have a banquet ready.  A dirty house and PB&J will be fine.  Jesus only wants you to invite Him in – He will take care of the rest.  We just need simple faith!

Dearest Jesus, always feel free to enter my home.  Become a part of my heart and my house, sitting at the table together for full nourishment.  In your name I pray, Amen!