Prepare Him RoomSample

Day 4: Encountering Jesus

Today’s Reading: Luke 7

Not everyone who encountered Jesus appreciated it. Jesus miraculously restored a man to his right mind. And the community’s response? They begged Him . . . to leave. 

Jesus offended people with His steadfast commitment to His purpose—to seek and save the lost. He infuriated “respected” leaders with His willingness to dine with those they deemed as scum. He unnerved many others by His utter refusal to occupy and overthrow Rome. But it was the world He came to save.

If we want Jesus to squish into one of the corners of our lives, we must know that He won’t. If we’re looking for Him to approve of everything we do and turn a blind eye to the things we should do but don’t, He won’t. This begs an honest question from us: Do we really want to invite Jesus into the center of our lives? Do we dare give Him the space He deserves? Are we willing to acknowledge Him as our King?

When Jesus becomes our Savior, He becomes our King. We’re miraculously grafted into His royal family line. He becomes our Counselor and Friend. He secures a place for us at the marriage supper of the Lamb (see Revelation 19:9). He defends and delivers us when the enemy presses in against us. He continually directs us in the way we should go. He forgives us of our sins and restore us from the inside out. He meets us on our dirt roads of mourning and brings life in ways we never dreamed possible. He ministers to us in our sadness and smiles with us in our gladness. Jesus is a friend of sinners. He’s the Savior of the world. What a priceless gift He offers to the willing and receptive heart!  

Want to encounter Jesus this holiday season? Invite Him to your party. Give Him your burdens. Trust Him with your fears. Obey Him when it doesn’t suit you. Offer Him room, time, and space to rearrange your priorities and renew your perspective. 

He’s still a miracle-working God. His compassions will never fail. We follow Him on His terms because He knows what we cannot know this side of heaven. So we trust Him. And enjoy Him. And we celebrate the fact that by some divine miracle, we know and are intimately known by the one who put the stars in place.

Pray: Lord, I honor You as my King and I will follow You on Your terms. Show me the way, Lord. I’ll follow. Amen.

Prepare: Today, fast from forgetfulness. Don’t forget to remember the times God has come through for you. Remember His goodness. Rehearse His kindness. Know and believe that He’s working in your midst even now. Keep your eyes and ears open for even the slightest evidence of God’s influence in and around you. Smile and whisper a prayer of thanks. He’s Emmanuel—God with us.