Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest

When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to Zacchaeus, ‘Hurry down, Zacchaeus, because I must stay in your house today.’
Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed him with great joy.   (verses 5, 6)

Read Luke 19: 1-10

If Jesus came to your house today, what would you serve him for dinner?

I can just imagine Zacchaeus climbing down from the tree (no mean feat for someone in robes) and dashing off home to get the best meal his servants could prepare. I can imagine him thinking up the menu on the way. What a great day it was for him! Jesus actually wanting to come to his house, sit down with him, eat with him and talk with him!

Jesus wants to come to each of us, wherever we are. Today he wants to come to your house. How will you receive him—with eagerness and great joy? Will you have the welcome mat out for him?

Jesus is a polite guest. He doesn’t come unannounced. He lets you know that he is coming, and he hopes you will welcome him. He says to you in Revelation 3:20, ‘Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if any hear my voice and open the door, I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with me.’

When Jesus comes to your house what will you serve him for dinner?

When we go to his house he serves us the best meal he can provide: his word and his body and blood in the sacrament. What a feast!

Come, Lord Jesus, come. Come into my home, but, better still, come into my heart and make it your home. Amen.

by Merna Thamm, in ‘Guidance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2002)

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