How’s Your House Lookin’?

         

Is it time to sweep up?
Are you ready for Jesus to visit?

Would you be embarrassed to bring Jesus Himself home? Is your house a mess…or tidy? Jesus sought out the tax collector, Zacchaeus, in the town of Jericho. He didn’t phone ahead and tell Zach that He was going to come to his house for dinner that day. He just saw short little Zach up in a sycamore-fig tree. That must have been a bit demeaning for this tax collector to climb up into a tree just so that he could catch a glimpse of the famous healer and teacher, Jesus. There he was—he got to see Jesus. But that wasn’t all. Jesus called out to him and said He was coming to his house—to be a guest for dinner—maybe even stay the night. Was his house a mess…or neat and tidy? We don’t know if Zacchaeus was even married or had children.

If Jesus came to your city and stopped to talk to you…and invite Himself to your home, would you be hospitable? Hospitality is not a gift everyone has—but we can be courteous, welcoming, and provide for the needs of others.

The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. 1 Peter 4:7-9

Personally, I try to keep my front room relatively neat and clean—mostly decluttered—so that I wouldn’t be humiliated to have anyone—even Jesus—drop in. When I was growing up, people would drop in on Sunday afternoons and visit. I don’t recall that anyone called ahead—you just dropped in. No meal was expected—it was after lunch and before supper. People just don’t do that anymore—and generally, if you are going to visit someone, call ahead.

            I know people who never invite anyone over to their homes—they are just such poor housekeepers that they don’t want anyone to see their lifestyle. I learned long ago to just look beyond the mess of dirty dishes, unswept floors, piles of laundry, and overflowing cat boxes. Sometimes, depending on the relationship, you can pitch in and help with housekeeping tasks while you are visiting. Listening to others is the most important part of any visit. People are lonely and they need to know you care. I guess I’m just trying to encourage you to open your door and your heart to others. Invite them in…and sometimes, be like Jesus and invite yourself over to others’ homes. Call ahead to see if it is convenient and be like Jesus. Accepting of others. No expectations. It doesn’t matter if their house was clean and ready for guests. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Can we do anything less?

 

Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. "Zacchaeus!" he said. "Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today." Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. "He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner," they grumbled. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, "I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!" Jesus responded, "Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost." Luke 19:1-10

 

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You called out to Zachaeus—“I’m coming to your house today.” When little children sing a song about this—are we teaching them to accept others? You certainly accepted Zachaeus. Help us to be like You—accepting and encouraging others. Seeking and offering salvation to those who are lost.

 

Meditate. Consider the salvation of the lost.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, "The LORD is great!" Psalm 40:16

 

© 2025 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

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