Text: Luke 19:1-10, Genesis 18:1-10, Genesis 19:1-11
And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him,“Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”
– Luke 19:5
We had just moved to a new Army post a few months earlier, and my husband was working long hours. It seemed my daughter or I were always sick – just enough to need to stay at home. When the one friend I’d made suggested playdates, I’d turn her down. I was tired, and my house wasn’t in a shape I’d deem “playdate ready.”
One morning I heard a knock on the door and there she was, coffee for us both in hand, her two kids rushing in. She was smiling sheepishly and said, “I don’t care if the house is a mess or if you have a cold – we missed you.” Her bold kindness has stuck with me for several years.
We are a culture that has put in place nearly impossible standards for our hosts and ourselves. Birthday parties must be perfect, dinners need to be Instagram-ready, even play dates have become themed.
What we’ve lost in the perfection is the comfort and companionship that comes with being with another person in their mess. It’s not about living in filth – it’s about making relationships more of a priority than the homes they take place in.
Guests are revered in the Bible. The angels that visited Lot in Genesis 19 were hidden inside as the men of the town yelled for them to be brought out. Lot attempts to protect his angelic guests by welcoming them at any cost.
In Luke 19, we see Zacchaeus, amid all his outward flaws, as the perfect host. No excuses, no rushing ahead to clean, no rescheduling. He climbed down and took Jesus to his home. Since he was able to focus on the blessing of Jesus asking to be his guest, he was also able to see the bigger picture in the invitation of salvation.
Hospitality is rarely convenient. We must be willing to interrupt the lives of others and be interrupted in our own to truly experience hospitality as Jesus practiced.
Jesus boldly asked to be a guest with Zacchaeus, knowing others would be shocked at Him spending time with such a man. He knew the message this would convey to Zacchaeus – “I care about you, I want to spend time with you.” How often do we do this with our friends? Someone in your life may need you to push the boundary a little before they let you into their home or heart.
Jesus and Zacchaeus offer the ideal setting for hospitality— bold asking, enthused acceptance. As we look at our relationships with others, where can we step into one of these roles and allow others to see our mess? Where can we take part in another’s real life? What are we missing out on if we are not willing to do both?
5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
I love the fact Jesus “saw” him. There are always those in a crowd who long to know Jesus but are not seen. The lonely person sitting by themselves at an event or the new visitor at church. May God give us a heart for those who are the unseen around us.
I love what you said about asking God to give us a heart for those who are the unseen around us. Wow! Thank you for the challenge!
Amen!!!!!!
We must be willing to interrupt the lives of others and be interrupted in our own to truly experience hospitality as Jesus practiced.
But interrupting seems so rude, so overbearing! But then when the Holy Spirit puts someone or a need on my heart, I shouldn't talk myself out of it. Challenged by this component, most definitely!
All I can say is WOW and yes , thank you for this!!
First let me say I loved this post! I need this in my own life and I need to be the person that goes into others lives in this way. But, I have to say when I read things like this there is a sinful part of me that knows I will turn this into a project to show off my good works. To find the person that needs loved on, love on them, just so that I can say I did, turn them into my project so I can feel good about it. How can we be intentional about being hospitable to others and fight that inner sinful pleasure off our list?
I have done the same thing. Seeing this in ourselves is the first thing and then fighting that temptation. I think Satan would like us to stop doing good because our minds wander to pride. I say love people anyway and ask God to keep your motives pure. We will never serve the Lord perfectly but we are still called to obey. Good that you are willing to be honest with yourself on this. I’ve been contemplating this subject for years. Blessings!
I am new to this site. I love it and it is really convicting me where I am right now. This last year I have had many changes with friends, kids, and my husbands job. I am trying to get to the place where God's word is put into action…and what is funny is that all my devotionals and quiet times seem to be lining up right now. God is so good! I am always so concerned that if I put myself out there, my actions will be rejected. I too pray that I will see life's interruptions as divine opportunities to serve others and Christ. I need to be vulnerable.
Hi, Jen! Welcome to our community! So grateful you're here! Praying for you in all of your transition, friend. Love to you!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
This is great this morning. I say this as my 27 yr.old son moves back home. Haha, although I was sad the day he moved out, we got used to the extra room and closet space… We were able to go bed at a certain time and not be woke up when he came home late from work…etc. We are being interrupted, but so is he, and I wouldn’t have any other way. I think we really need him home with us right now,,,as I’ve said in my posts before, I’m going through cancer right now, and I think it’s good for him to see what I go through each day. I just want to show him, that with our wonderful loving awesome God, we CAN get through these battles. I want to show him the love of Jesus. Please pray with me ladies that my boys eyes/heart will come back to Jesus. Enjoy your day,xo.
Praying with you,Beth Warner that got will use your cancer as a means of grace. In your life, your husband”s but most especially your son’s! Thank you for posting!
Thanks, Diana! This reminded me why some of my long time friends are so important to me. One in particular that could care less what I or my house looks like. I also have friends that must be the perfect southern host or hostess. And you know that may not be stressful for them, maybe it is fun to be ‘Instagram’ perfect. At my time of life the only messes are made my husband and myself or the grands. So my perspective has changed with age. This study has helped me think through that and not be critical of all they do to be perfect hostesses. I need to be me and be a welcoming me.
I too cringed at the passage from Lot’s tale but he was a man of God and like the story of Abraham and Issac God was in control. Lots of things in the Old Testament make me cringe. Covering the earth with water save for Noah’s crew, etc. But there is an order and control and it is His. I need to be, we all need to be more hospitable to our brothers and sisters, especially those walking in darkness.
Forgive the ramble…
We live a ministry of hospitality here in the mission field, with our main outreach being out of our house. Last night, I planned to spend a couple of hours writing–working on some pretty important projects. But a family of 7 with little babies and a 9 year old with cancer showed up at my door. They needed to be fed. Beds needed to be made. One of my own little ones started running fever. By the time I got everyone settled for the night, the kitchen was a mess and my cursor blinked in the same exact place where it had been when I sat to write. But I felt satisfied knowing that receiving this family and caring for my own was the work HE intended for me. An open door, a ready table and a warm bed. This is the best I have to offer my brothers and sisters and He makes it enough. Saying "yes" even when it interrupts our plans brings its own rewards.
Way to go. I’m sure the love and kindness you showed will never be forgotten. I’m so glad you were able to prioritize correctly in this given circumstance, and show this family the love of Jesus that was needed in this situation!