Priorities 2: Hosting Jesus
The Word: A certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word (Luke 10:38-39).
Prayerful Contemplation: The Lord now is at His destination, so to speak – he has entered into the village and gone to the exact location He intended to visit. Martha must have been overwhelmed to receive the Lord. Was everything in place? Was there enough food, and would the Lord like it? Would the finest china be good enough for Him?
Our worries should never prevent us from welcoming the Lord into the place He longs to be – His garden; our hearts. He bought us with His own Blood, and He did this knowing our end from the beginning; knowing even the ugliest concepts that our hearts would ever conjure up or imagine.
At the same time, if the Lord said He would visit me today, I would do my best to clean my house to the best of my ability, and if I had a garden, I would weed it and prune it and beautify it in the best way I could. However, in so doing, I would not be able to get it to be even half as good as the Lord deserves.
Practical Application: The Lord is the only One who can prune and tend His garden, look after a house, so that it is good enough for Him. In my human condition, I just don’t qualify in my own strength, outside of the Blood of Jesus. However, when the Lord takes over, the house is occupied by His Spirit; the garden grows and bears fruit; there is rest and peace all around. I should not welcome any stranger into my heart – the Lord’s garden should be reserved for Him, and Him alone. A house, like a garden, is not usually a public setting where any stranger can come and do as he pleases. It is a place where one can be alone, after a long day’s work, spending quiet time in peace and meditation with one’s Love.
Memory Verse: I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse (Song of Solomon 5:1).
Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your Word says You stand at the door and knock; today I pray that You would give me the wisdom to let You in, so that You can dine with me, and I with You. You have been shut out of Your own church; let me not be so foolish as to shut You out of my heart. Let me welcome You into my life, my garden – Your garden, for You have espoused Your children to Yourself, and we are not our own. In Your own precious Name I humbly ask it. Amen.
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