I grew up in the South where hospitality is in our blood. To quote Nero Wolfe, author Rex Stout’s fictional detective, I believe “a guest is a jewel resting on the cushion of hospitality.” Terry and I tend to pamper our houseguests, serve meals to their tastes, and do our very best to make them feel comfortable and welcome in our home.
(Yes, we have a small but lovely guest room. No, this is not an open invitation!)
Hospitality is encouraged throughout the Bible. One glowing example is the Shunammite woman’s hospitality toward the prophet Elisha:
One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.” (2 Kings 4:8-10)
The way I read this—here’s the whole story if you’re not familiar with it–she first lured the old prophet in with food, then made him so comfortable that he settled in as a regular guest. Hosting the man of God brought a blessing on the woman’s household.
What happens, though, when the one “continually passing our way” looking for accommodation is not a holy man of God, but a predator?
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Pet 5:8-9)
With this passerby, our welcome mats should be taken in. Satan targets our weakest areas, and like all skilled predators he studies us to learn our scent, our habits, and the inclinations of our hearts. If we don’t recognize his strategies in our lives we can find ourselves outmaneuvered.
“…in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” (2 Cor 2:11)
“ For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Eph 6:12)
Sadly, Terry and I have found that we are rather easy to outwit! In talking about this a few weeks ago, Terry pointed out a pattern he’s noticed when believers are lured into a sin that ends up mastering them. It has happened to us, and it may have happened to you. The first step isn’t a big one. In fact it’s almost unnoticeable.
We stop resisting.
A stranger comes to visit and starts knocking at our door. We know we shouldn’t answer, so we try to ignore it. It doesn’t stop. We try earplugs for a while, then we try to drown it out with loud praise music. Still the knocking continues, ever more urgent. Again and again and again he knocks.
Have you ever leaned into a strong wind, or stood in a river against a steady current as you fished? If you do it for very long your muscles start to ache even though you’re not moving. Standing firm might look effortless but it’s exhausting.
Sometimes in our weariness we give in and answer the door.
At first the stranger startles us with his beauty. He’s the sweet answer to the prayers of our flesh! After the long weariness of resisting it’s a relief to relax and smile and sit with a friend. His name may be Lust or Arrogance or Greed, but he looks pleasing to the eye… in fact, like an angel of light. (2 Cor 11:14) After a nice visit, just long enough, he politely takes his leave.
We put him out of our mind. It wasn’t so bad. Just a short visit.
When he comes back a few days later, we don’t hesitate quite as long before answering the door. What’s the harm? Soon we become comfortable with his visits, which stretch longer and longer and become a familiar routine. We never go out looking for him, but when he comes we let him in.
Passive acceptance becomes comfortable and familiar. It’s another small step.
It can go on like this for months or even years, but eventually some invisible heart-line is crossed. Our neutral position shifts, and one day we find ourselves eagerly looking forward to the visits, listening for our friend’s approach. We want more. We crave more. We deserve more.
So like the Shunammite woman, we set aside a little room in our hearts and furnish it comfortably to make the visits more convenient. We set aside time and energy to daydream or indulge ourselves. Perhaps we open a secret email account, or change the password on our phone, or develop new habits and excuses.
Meanwhile we ignore all the warning signs and flashing lights:
“Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him]” (Eph 4:27 AMPC)
“But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for [nor even think about gratifying] the flesh in regard to its improper desires.” (Rom 13:14 AMP)
Instead of resisting, we now find ourselves accommodating and hosting this unholy friend we’ve made. We feed him, and he grows stronger. He comes and goes as he pleases, but unlike Elisha is not content to confine himself to “his” room. He has his eyes set on taking the whole house.
It is true of Satan that if you give him an inch, he will take a mile. (John 10:10).
The fruit that started out tasting so sweet to our lips eventually turns bitter and carries the sting of slavery: “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (Rom 6:16)
A slave. No longer a willing host, nor even a strong man or woman “playing with fire”, but a cringing slave to sin. We hate what we’re doing but can’t stop.
How did this happen? The warning to not give room to the devil, even a tiny foothold, suddenly makes horrible sense.
Thank God there’s a way out. We have a Redeemer who hears our cry and comes to us!
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.” (James 4:7-8)
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Rev 3:20)
This is a knock we can run to answer. Christ doesn’t leave us alone to “power” our way out of sin. Just as we yielded to temptation earlier, we can yield to the Spirit when the Lord of Life comes knocking.
When we yield to him he puts our house to rights.
“There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.” (Luke 12:2-3)
Terry and I have learned that we can take back territory the same way we lost it: stop resisting (God), yield to his persistent advances toward us, and then welcome him in as Master of the house, arranging everything to please him.
It’s a matter of choosing to whom you yield.
“Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.” (Rom 6:13)
“But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.” (1 Pet 3:15 NET)
May each of us make our heart a welcoming home for the Holy One.
© 2016 Deborah Morris
Eternity in My Heart 