Welcoming Them In
Today, I got a taste of something good.
You see, I was telling myself that I knew certain things. I believed them. There for, I thought I was living them out and doing a pretty great job, too, if I might add.
Today was my reality check.
A sweet group checked in to the guesthouse today. They were kind, patient, and just looking to make the most of their experience here.
However, while they we’re planing their stay here, I was unsure if I even wanted them to stay in general.
Well, not them in particular, but “their type.” Should they be allowed?
You see, in this group of three, there was a western man who had paid for an Asian woman to travel with him in exchange for.. well I’m sure you can guess, the Asian woman, and another western man, who was the other man’s friend.
For some reason, my head separated loving people outside the home vs. welcoming them in.
I know it sounds silly. As a follower of Christ welcomed into God’s family and home by grace, I of all people should know from experience the importance of welcoming in everyone, no strings attached.
It’s funny, because as I type this, I hear the Lord speak His love over them.
“I love them.” He says. “I knew them before they were born and created them from the womb.”
Boy, did I need a wake up call…
Sometimes, things creep in so undetected. I thought I already knew all of this, but still the lie remained in my heart.
How far was too far?
Apparently what ever vision I had of that line was not far enough because the guest house director warmly greeted them and cared for them.
“This is wrong” I thought, as they were being shown to their rooms, more confused than ever.
When the director came back, I asked him his heart on the matter and the guest house policy.
The Lord began to do a work in my heart with his answer.
He talked about love. He talked about the difference he has seen in a similar senario in the guests from the beginning to the end of their stay here.
Man. It’s amazing what the love of the Father through an open vessel does.
My mind is brought back to the movie “Furious Love”. A man is building a church in a foreign land and he has this dream. In his dream, there are people having sex and doing drugs in the church pews. He gets angry and starts telling them that if they aren’t going to get with the program, to get out.
That’s when the Lord spoke, and breakthrough came upon Him. The Lord so tenderly said “Why would you send out what I have sent in?”
Ladies and gentlemen, that’s what I learned today.
To not deny what the Lord has brought in. To welcome them with open and loving arms, and be glad. Whether they “get with the program” or “clean up their act” is no longer my concern. I am not the judge of who is welcomed and who is not. Now my concern is to let His heart be known by surrounding all around me with an uncapable love and welcoming them into His Home.
It brought me back to the story of the Prodigal son.
(Luke 15:11-32 click here to read)
One of the two sons had left home and became internally lost. He decided to return home but carried, guilt and shame on his back.
His brother, who had been in the home the whole time, did not rejoice in his brother’s homecoming. Instead he added to the hurt and shame by judging the brother and seeing his iniquity over his value.
I do not want to be that brother.
So, in conclusion, I leave with this proclamation:
I welcome all He welcomes. I rejoice over all He rejoices. I choose to make His place of dwelling a place of fluid love and overflowing color. I choose not to bring death or judgement or to stop the Spirit from reaching someone just because of fleshly ideas of them.
So Lord, I repent. Please let these words take root in my heart and turn me over.
I love you with all my heart and am so excited for what’s next.
I love you all, too.
Always a phone call or message away,
?Tara
