day 1269: The Guest Room

"Then David summoned all Israel to Jerusalem to bring the Ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it."

We had the rug in our master bedroom cleaned in the afternoon and the cleaner said that we couldn't walk on the rug for 12 hours so Patti and I were relegated to the guest room for the night. It had been a long time since we slept there, but since we bought that bed and mattress many guests, family members, house sitters, friends have slept in that bed.  In the middle of the night we both woke up and said to each other, "This mattress is horrible!".  We were both embarrassed and upset that we we didn't know how bad this was and how many people had had that same experience without ever telling us.  The guest room is a little like the places in our companies and organizations where we never visit and we just take it for granted that everyone else has it as good as us.  You might be frightened if you looked at all you have and then slept one night in the "guest room" and made the comparison.  You probably will find a few places that need a new mattress!

Jesus, while in his ministry, never had a home.  He traveled and slept in a different place nightly.  He was among different people each day, experiencing and listening to what was being said in the streets.  It is no wonder that he could communicate with such authenticity and relate to everyone.  Jesus understood what people were going through because he was in their "guest room" every day.  He still is.  Jesus comes into our lives if we invite Him.  He comes to work with us if we bring Him along. Jesus is the humble guest who never complains when we don't give Him our best, and He keeps coming back for more regardless. We need to consider what kind of guest room we are preparing for our Lord and for others when they look to us as a example of God's love and ways.  

Reference: 1 Chronicles 15:3 (New Living Translation)