“Make yourself at home. We’re so glad you’re here!” Pam said as our long-anticipated house guests finally arrived.  Eric and Lisa Simpson are career missionaries to England and longtime friends.  For quite some time they’ve been wanting to return to the US to report to their supporting churches and reconnect with family. And now with COVID finally settling down a bit, they can. Although they’ll be gone most weekends traveling to churches, they’re based out of the apartment we recently built out in our basement.

For years, Pam and I have wanted to have a designated space where we could provide hospitality to extended family, friends, and missionaries.  Our house in Virginia was a wonderful home to raise 4 kids and we lived comfortably. I have absolutely no complaints. But the layout really didn’t lend itself to hosting for any extended period of time.  So, when we moved back to Pennsylvania, we asked the Lord to provide a home with an unfinished walkout basement that could be converted into a little independent apartment.  God answered that prayer with our East Earl home. And during COVID, with generous financial help from Pam’s dad, our own Korey Eppinette and Eppinette Construction built a lovely space complete with bathroom, bedroom, and a small kitchen.  We’re very pleased and all summer have been looking forward to hosting Eric, Lisa, Chase, and Liana.

It felt so good to show them around and watch them settle in.  They were pleased with the accommodations and are familiarizing themselves with both our home and this beautiful corner of Lancaster county.  We’ve said, “Make yourself at home!”, several time.  But it takes time to get used to living in someone else’s home.

“I’m going to take a shower now…”, Eric’s teenage son Chase said the first night.

“OK, great.”, I said.  “And Chase?”

“Yes?”

“You don’t have to ask our permission to take a shower.”

“I know”, he replied.  “But I want to be polite.”

“Just make yourself at home.” I said.

“OK.”

And a bit later… “Do you mind if we set up the ping pong table down here?”, Eric called up the stairs.

“Anything down there is yours to use. Make yourself at home.” I called back.

But I get their hesitancy and tentativeness.  It will take time to establish normal rhythms of life and not trip over each other. But we really want them to feel welcomed.

*******

Today in my morning Bible reading, I read in Ephesians 3

Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Ephesians 3:17 (NLT)

And it got me thinking.  The Bible is clear that when we became Christians, a very special guest came to reside with us.

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16

Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you? 2 Corinthians 13:5

I am crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. Galatians 2:20

So Jesus lives in you!  He’s a permanent house guest… well, actually he owns the whole house, but from our perspective, when we came to faith, he moved in to join us.

But does Jesus feel at home in you?  Does he feel welcomed and comfortable? Have you given him full access and are you living life together with him?   Or have you ignored or relegated him to some out of the way closet or put him out in the garage?

If Jesus physically came to stay at 1286 Cedar Ave, East Earl, Pennsylvania, you better believe I’d throw out the red carpet.  He could have anything he wanted, I’d happily make any accommodation, remove anything offensive and scrub the house clean. I’d spend every spare minute I could spending time together and sharing life. He’d have complete access to everything I own.

Shouldn’t the same thing be true of Jesus in you and me?

I want Eric and Lisa to enjoy their time with us.  But come December 4, they’ll be leaving us.  Jesus has moved into my life and he’ll be with me forever.

“Welcome Jesus, make yourself at home!”