Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today, let’s discover benefits of preparing a room that invites God to rest.

Today’s scripture, 2 Kings 4:8-11 (NLT) shares…
[8] One day Elisha went to the town of Shunem. A wealthy woman lived there, and she urged him to come to her home for a meal. After that, whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for something to eat. [9] She said to her husband, “I am sure this man who stops in from time to time is a holy man of God. [10] Let’s build a small room for him on the roof and furnish it with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then he will have a place to stay whenever he comes by.” [11] One day Elisha returned to Shunem, and he went up to this upper room to rest.

Consider…
Today’s scripture provides some hidden parallels of how we should respond to Jesus being in our neighborhood.

First, we see Hebrews 13:2 (NLT) on full display. The verses says…
[2] Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

Notice in today’s scripture, Elisha was passing through town and this woman urged him to stop by her house for a meal with herself and her husband.

From this brief exchange we can learn from this woman’s interaction with God’s prophet Elisha. We can learn that…

• The Omnipresent God can pass through our neighborhood anonymously at anytime. The scripture only said that Elisha was passing through a woman’s town.
• Hospitality unconditionally engages. We don’t read background that says this woman knew who Elisha was. Accordingly, her inviting him to her home was not motivated by what she could get, but rather what she could give.
• Hospitality is sincerely extended. The scripture says the woman urged Elisha. This reminds me of Romans 12:8-10 which to gladly show kindness, really love others with genuine affection, and honor each other. This woman urging demonstrated her sincere desire for the man of God to share a meal in her home.
• Hospitality shares what it has, which is primarily fellowship. Notice, the woman offered Elisha a meal, not money for food or a snack for the road. A meal represents sitting and talking while eating. And when we talk with others we get to know them.
• Hospitality is open-ended. In our scripture we read, “After that, whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for something to eat”. She invited Elisha once but welcomed him thereafter.
• Hospitality discovers who a person is. We read in verse 9 from today…She said to her husband, “I am sure this man who stops in from time to time is a holy man of God.” I like the way my wife says, “proximity shatters assumptions”. This makes me recommend that we commune, rather than assume, with others.
• Hospitality grows and develops a welcoming environment. Notice, our heroine says in verse 10…“Let’s build a small room for him on the roof and furnish it with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then he will have a place to stay whenever he comes by.”

Imagine reacting to Jesus the same way this woman reacted to Elisha.

• Unconditionally engaging
• Sincerely extending an invitation for fellowship
• Sharing what we have freely
• Inviting once and welcoming always
• Getting to know one another
• Creating a welcoming environment for regular visits

Jesus tells us we do this when we do it to the least of these. We read Jesus’ testimony in Matthew 25:34-40 (NLT)…
[34] “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. [35] For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. [36] I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ [37] “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? [38] Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? [39] When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ [40] “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

I imagine the Shunamite woman in today’s scripture smiling from heaven when Jesus spoke those words to the assembled crowd.

As much as we have learned already from our hospitable hostess, there’s a couple more lessons she has to teach us.

First, when we build it, He will come. The last verse in today’s scripture says…
One day Elisha returned to Shunem, and he went up to this upper room to rest.

That means when we make room in our hearts, Jesus will come in. This makes me run to Revelation 3:20 (NLT) and read…
[20] “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

Wow! 🤯 The Holy Spirit just showed me that Jesus wants us to practice hospitality with others because He wants us to be hospitable to Him when He stops by. When we don’t screen our hospitality, we won’t miss Jesus’ visit. 🤯

I totally hear Jonathan McReynolds singing…

I find space for what I treasure
I make time for what I want
I choose my priorities and
Jesus you’re my number one

So I will make room for you
I will prepare for two
So you don’t feel that you
Can’t live here, please live in me

Speaking of Jesus living in our prepared room, let’s look at the last lesson of providing a rest stop for others.

The text for our lesson is found in 2 Kings 4:13-17 (NLT), which says…
[13] Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tell her, ‘We appreciate the kind concern you have shown us. What can we do for you? Can we put in a good word for you to the king or to the commander of the army?’” “No,” she replied, “my family takes good care of me.” [14] Later Elisha asked Gehazi, “What can we do for her?” Gehazi replied, “She doesn’t have a son, and her husband is an old man.” [15] “Call her back again,” Elisha told him. When the woman returned, Elisha said to her as she stood in the doorway, [16] “Next year at this time you will be holding a son in your arms!” “No, my lord!” she cried. “O man of God, don’t deceive me and get my hopes up like that.” [17] But sure enough, the woman soon became pregnant. And at that time the following year she had a son, just as Elisha had said.

As I read that, I heard Billy Preston playing the organ and singing…

You can’t beat God’s giving, no matter how you try
And just as sure as you are living
And the Lord is in heaven on high
The more you give, the more He give to you
But keep on giving because it’s really true
That you can’t beat God’s giving, no matter how you try

In our last lesson we see that God generously rewards our generosity. Being a blessing to others places you in the crosshairs of God’s blessings.

So as you enjoy your breaks from time to time, make sure you remember to offer others a break too. When you do, don’t be surprised when Jesus stops by and blesses you for being a blessing.

Today’s Song is…
Make Room

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)