Making Room For Jesus

The Meaning of Hospitality

September 18, 1999

Lowell First Church of the Nazarene, Lowell Massachusetts

Luke 10:38-42

(Story One:)

One bright summer morning Abraham was sitting outside his tent which was set on a small hilltop. He was looking out over literally miles of his own flocks and herds and the tents of his servants. Then something unexpected happened. God dropped in for a visit.

The appearance of God was not like anything Abraham could have imagined or even dreamed. Yet Abraham did not seem surprised that God might choose to reveal himself as he did. And as wonderful and awe inspiring as it was that God should drop in for a visit, it was what God SAID after lunch that day that was even more unbelievable.

"You're going to have a son! A year from right now you and Sarah will be the proud parents of your own child of promise!"

Sarah was listening just inside the flap of the tent that served as a door. The flap shook just a little bit and the Visitor said, "Why is Sarah laughing?"

At that Sarah stuck her head out the door and said, "I didn't laugh!"

"Oh yes you did," smiled the Visitor, "but it is true all the same. You are going to have a baby!"

God always stretched Abraham's faith, it seemed, to the breaking point and then just a little bit more. But Abraham loved God. He took pains to make God welcome in his life wherever he was on his journey. Not just here in this part of Abraham's life, but across years of trust and obedience and faith Abraham kept God at the center of his life's focus.

ABRAHAM WELCOMED GOD! HE MADE ROOM FOR GOD IN HIS LIFE. AS A RESULT ABRAHAM FOUND GOD'S AGENDA FOR HIS OWN LIFE. Then Abraham became part of God's agenda for his nephew's life. Lot was saved from disaster. And finally Abraham became a blessing across the years to millions of people. It began with a heart of hospitality: making room for God.

MAKING ROOM. FOR GOD. IN OUR OWN HEARTS. FOR PEOPLE. GENEROSITY, AS GOD IS GENEROUS.

(Story Two:)

One morning a small boy woke up early and dressed as fast as he could and walked down a well trod path to a beautiful blue lake, where he was soon engaged in one of the finest past times known to humankind. He had just caught two small fish when his attention was caught by what seemed to be a parade or crowd coming around the end of the lake from the direction of the village. He was curious as all small boys are, and so he went to investigate. What he found out sent him flying home to ask his mother if he could go along, too. And amazingly she said he could.

She cooked his two fish and wrapped them in a clean napkin and put in half a dozen small biscuits she was baking on top of them in his basket. Then he was off to find out what was so exciting. By this time it was afternoon, and he had worked his way through a lot of people right to the very front where Jesus was teaching. He liked the stories, but didn't really understand too much, but he did hear a private conversation in between lessons. He got the idea that the disciples were hungry and there was no food.

So the boy spoke to one of the people with Jesus he was a big fisherman. We know he was Andrew, Peter's brother. "Jesus can have my lunch," he said. "At least HE won't have to go hungry!"

All four Gospels tell the story. Only one tells where the disciples got the five loaves and two fish to feed the multitude. But WE know it was a small boy. His hospitality for Jesus turned into a blessing that went far beyond what he could have dreamed. It all began when someone forgot his own ego, and put Jesus at the center.

SOMEONE MADE ROOM FOR GOD.

THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY! (to make room for God in our lives) THAT IS WHAT CHRISTIANS ARE SUPPOSED TO DO EVERY DAY (make room for God!) THAT IS WHAT IS FIRST, PRIMARY, CENTRAL about our faith.

(Stories 3,4) It can be comical sometimes when secondary things are remembered and primary things are forgotten

(Story 3)

Victor Borge told about a couple at the airline check in line waiting to go on vacation. They had piles of luggage; suitcases of all shapes and sizes.

The husband said to the wife: "I wish we had brought the piano."

Wife: "We've got sixteen bags too many already!"

H: "Yes, I know but the tickets are on the piano!"

(Story 4) This actually happened, in Sacred Heart Parish, Can Street, New Orleans: In the late 1960s they were beginning to do baptisms in the Sunday mass times, and a couple was having their baby baptized.

The parents were instructed. They were told the importance of not being late. The paperwork was all done. Everything was set.

Well, the parents were on time, and they hurried forward, and yes you guessed it they forgot to bring the baby. The baby was still at home with Grandma. EVERY ACTION, RELATIONSHIP, INSTITUTION, LIFE has a basic focus a

most important thing, or it should have if there will be success in its existence. A CHURCH EXISTS TO KNOW GOD, AND LIFT HIM UP, AND LOVE AND WORSHIP HIM . . . if all there is to church is counting noses or raising money or singing songs or anything else then the potluck suppers and walks for hunger and all are missing the heart of the target.

(Story 5)

Jesus said, "Martha, Martha! You are all worked up out there in the kitchen! You have forgotten that the most important part of having company is making that company feel 'at home.' "

(Conclusion, into Story 6)

THE PASSAGE IN LUKE 10 tells us that the focus of our lives is to be LOVE. We are to MAKE ROOM FOR JESUS at the center. The very heart of the meaning of "love" here is "HOSPITALITY." How?

1. Put Jesus ahead of your own self. The Lord's Prayer: GOD, then petitions, etc.

   The McLandress Syndrome, named after Prof Herschel McLandress of Harvard: he developed a way to measure a person's self absorption: In spoken and written material he measured the use of "I, me, mine" – and the "coefficient" was supposed to be the longest a person couldremain diverted from himself. Eleanor Roosevelt was supposed to have a coefficient of two hours. JFK could go 29 minutes. Elizabeth Taylor's was THREE MINUTES. Maybe the reason Jesus isn't at home with me is because I want to talk about ME while HE wants to talk about something else???

2. Make Jesus "literally" at home in all our work and play: be aware that HE wants to share in your TV watching, your work problems, your attitude as you drive, check out at the grocery, etc.
3. Continually "come back to basics" with Jesus in the many things we need to do around a home or around a church don't forget that Jesus just might be cooling his heels in the living room waiting for a chance to tell us he loves us!

   Thank God for Martha. Those who do the pots and pans. Thank God for Mary– who reminds us what faith is all about.

(IF TIME:)

Her name was Esther. She was a Martha if there ever was one. Esther had ways of getting Esther's way. She was always a mover and a shaker. But then about 1979 or so something changed. Esther started making room in her heart for God. More room than she had ever given Him before.

She never dreamed what would happen. She put her phone number on sheets of paper that said, "Having a crisis? Call xxx xxxx" and she nailed them to telephone poles around her neighborhood. The phone started ringing. It has never stopped.

The Quincy Crisis Center went to a budget of $800,000 a year before Esther died. It is still functioning.

ONE THING IS NEEDFUL! I wonder what might happen in our homes and in our churches– to say nothing of our personal relationship with God if we really made room for God - - FIRST!??

Prayer:

God help me listen! Help me love You! YOU are what we need. Amen

626 Gentle Shepherd