Welcoming visitors makes Christmas a particularly joyous time of year.  It also makes Christmas a particularly hectic time of year because of the stress of welcoming guests into a home routine.  Last night when I sat to eat dinner by myself I bowed my head and began to pray, “come Lord Jesus, be my guest.” I bowed my heart and reflected, “do I really know what I am asking here?” “Come into my home, my heart and be my guest” is an amazing request.  My house was a mess and my heart and mind were filled with weary thoughts at the end of an unusually busy day. My mind shifted to Christ’s words, “peace be with you.”

Luke uses “God has visited his people” language as he describes Jesus word and work in the lives of the people. Christ walked into the homes and hearts and lives of people who needed his mercy and healing to bring mercy and healing, not to check for dust bunnies. Jesus didn’t say to Zacchaeus, “I’m coming to your house so you will give back”; Jesus said, “I’m coming to your house to call you to myself and to change your way of thinking.” Zacchaeus knew the stumbling block to a relationship with Jesus so he said, “I will repay what I have stolen.”

The religious leaders were caused a tremendous amount of stress by God visiting his people because they didn’t receive God in the flesh of Christ. They judged and tried to trap him; they made plans to take his life. The lame, the blind, those caught up in struggles of life, the deaf, and the dead were not caught up in stress as God visited them – they welcomed him because they needed him.  When Jesus stepped into their life situation, he took charge to save and to heal. He had everything to offer them.

God visits his people through the continuing word and work of Christ. We cause ourselves so much stress when we think we have to have everything perfect in order to request Christ’s presence in our lives, hearts, souls and minds. Christ steps in and speaks his life and his perfection into our situations. The situations won’t be resolved perfectly, but our way of thinking will rest in his perfect life and the hope that enters the situation by his presence. Christ steps in to create peace and restore wholeness to brokenness.

We are called to wake up to the visit of God in our lives by his word and work. He is present and active calling us to himself. He creates a holy place in our homes and hearts for himself. We pray, “Come Lord Jesus, be our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed and may our souls by thee be fed, ever on the Living Bread.” Amen. May we joyfully celebrate “God with us, Emmanuel.” Blessings IN Christ, Cindy

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