Welcoming Jesus Into Your Heart & Home

While they were traveling, He entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. —Luke 10:38 CSB

Don’t you just love a good dinner party? After a warm invitation is extended and accepted, it's time to pick out the menu and straighten up the home-fluff the pillows, sweep the floor, and set the table. Whether the meal is homemade or catered, it doesn't matter. Because the most important part of the evening is simply when friends gather around the table and allow the conversation and laughter to flow as the night progresses. Eventually, goodbyes are said at the door with promises to do it again soon. And even though we are left with a kitchen full of dirty dishes, we typically find that after opening our homes to others, our hearts are just as full as our stomachs.

Martha must have felt the same way when the time came for her to bid farewell to her cherished guests. As the head of the house that she shared with Mary and Lazarus, her sister and brother, Martha was certainly known for her hospitality in the village of Bethany. She was very much in charge and was willing to receive guests into her home, even if her guest of honor came traveling with a clan of twelve other men.

The gospel of Luke records that Martha welcomed Jesus into her home. She didn't begrudgingly open the door for Him and His disciples. No. She wanted His presence to fill her home, and thus she swung wide open the door to host Him. As Jesus placed one holy foot and then another onto her property, did Martha feel the atmosphere shift? Could she feel the peace that only He provides permeate her home? Can you imagine what it must have felt like to welcome the Son of God into your home for a dinner party? I bet she never wanted to say goodbye to this special guest.

Perhaps the first time Martha opened her door to Jesus, she was curious to see if He truly was the Son of God, and perhaps you are wondering the same thing today.

In Revelation 3:20 (NLT), Jesus said,

"Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends." Jesus gives each one of us the same invitation. He stands at the door of our hearts and knocks, but it's up to us whether or not we open the door and welcome Him into our lives.

He will not force Himself through the door, but oh, how He wants to have dinner with us! He, too, loves a good dinner party and wants to bring His peace and salvation as He comes to reside and rest in our hearts. But the question is, will we let Him in? It's only when we wholeheartedly welcome Him into our day-to-day routines that we will truly find rest.

Reflection Questions

Is Jesus knocking at the door of your heart? If you're honest with yourself, have you let Him all the way in? Even into your messy kitchen? List anything that is holding you back from opening your heart to Him all the way.

Take a moment right now to welcome God into the deepest crevices of your heart and home. Feel His perfect peace surround you, and record your response to His presence below.

Scripture

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. IF you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” REVELATION 3:20 NLT

There is no one else who has the power to save us, for there is only one name to whom God has given authority by which we must experience salvation: the name of Jesus. ACTS 4:12 TPT

The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places He planned to visit. These were His instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into his fields. Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. Don’t take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don’t stop to greet anyone on the road.

“Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’ If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you. Don’t move around form home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay.” LUKE 10:1-7 NLT

PRAYER:

Jesus, what a privilege it is to take this walk of faith with You. Reveal to me things that are keeping me from resting in You and make known to me anything that is hindering Your peace from resting on me. I give You permission to come into every aspect of my life. I open the door of my heart fully to You – even the messy parts that I would rather remain hidden. Teach me to embrace a lifestyle that is authentic and transparent, knowing that with You I can be the best version of myself if I am willing to let You in. Today I resolve to hold nothing back, knowing that You didn’t hold anything back from me whenever You came to die for my sins. I declare that You are the Son of God, and it is my greatest delight to have You in my heart and home. There is nothing better than having dinner with You as my Savior and Friend. You are so very welcome in this place. Amen.

Moment to Breathe

Take a moment to breathe in God’s rest and exhale out your tiredness. Imagine that you are at the beach. The water is blue, and the breeze is just right – not too strong and not too chilly. You are grateful for the getaway because your life has been hectic lately, and you can’t wait to rest and relax in the sun. But as you make your way to the shoreline, there are throngs of people. Sand is flying, and babies are crying. This is not the refreshment you had desired. You wanted peace and quiet and rest for your weary soul, but now your high expectations are dissolving into the wind like sunscreen from an aerosol bottle. Now imagine that Jesus is toward the east. The sun is illuminating Him, and He is beckoning you to walk toward Him. You take a step and then another, and as you do, you feel your anxiety begin to decrease. It’s not that the distractions and dangers of being at the beach aren’t still there; it’s just that your focus has changed, and you are walking toward your rest with purpose. So, take a deep breath in and receive your invitation.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You. ISAIAH 26:3 NIV

This is an excerpt from April Rodgers' devotional guide Resting in Jesus: A 30 Day Walk with Mary & Martha.