Notes of Faith December 7, 2024
Ways to Celebrate the Season: Open Your Home
When Jesus was born, there was no vacancy in the inn, but later many people opened their homes to Him. He attended a wedding in Cana in John 2. Peter’s home became His headquarters in Capernaum. In Matthew 9, Jesus dined in the home of Matthew, who became the author of the first Gospel. Mary and Martha entertained our Lord in Luke 10, and Simon the leper held a dinner for Him in Matthew 26. Jesus visited Jairus’ home in Luke 8, where He raised a little girl from the dead. On the night before His crucifixion, our Lord enjoyed the hospitality of a home with a large upper room. Three days later He sat down for supper with a family from the village of Emmaus (Luke 24).
Luke 24:28-35
28 And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. 29 But they urged Him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over." So He went in to stay with them. 30 When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 They said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?" 33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, 34 saying, "The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon." 35 They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.
If you knew Jesus would visit your house, you would prepare for Him. Although He cannot now physically come, we are able to serve Him by inviting others needing help, encouragement, provisions, or fellowship.
Jesus always blesses the homes He enters—and He will bless your hospitality this season too.
Show hospitality to a stranger today!
C. S. Lewis
Robin and I often invite people over for special times, events, and seasons. But we have been blessed by having a stranger/acquaintance use our home for a place to sleep between work shifts. We were blessed to have work associates of our children live in our home and enjoyed their lives blending with ours. We were blessed to have international college students share our home as a place to live while attending CSULB. We remember, love, and pray for all of these people and still have contact with some of them. We appreciate God’s work in our lives through these experiences and hope that we will continue to be blessed with many more opportunities. May you consider praying for such opportunities to be blessed by God for someone in need of a meal or a night’s stay and be an influence of the grace of God in your life to them! You could even be blessed by inviting family and friends into your home! Give thanks for the blessing before it comes!
Pastor Dale