I'm Going To Your House Today
by Barbara Chadwick


Zaccheus wanted to see Jesus but he was too short to see over the crowd so he climbed a sycamore fig tree. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zaccheus, come down immediately. I must go to your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. Luke 19:5-6

Zaccheus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he
He climbed up into a sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see
And as the Savior passed that way he looked up in the tree
And said, "Zaccheus, you come down, for I'm going to your house today
I'm going to your house today."

Remember that Sunday School song? We sang it with hand motions and all the enthusiasm of children.

I wonder what Zaccheus fed Jesus that day?

I was talking to someone recently about a recipe and she said, "You made that dish one time when we went to your house. We had such a good time that day!" It got me to thinking about friends coming to our house. Is there anything sweeter than the fellowship of friends in your home, sharing a meal and sharing life stories?

When we were in seminary we got a telephone call. Some friends said, "We're in the area and decided to come by your house this evening." I put the phone down. The joy and excitement I had felt at hearing my friend's voice turned to despair as I thought, "Oh, my goodness, whatever will I feed them?" It was the end of the month and there was hardly any food left in the pantry. I was close to tears.

I had to run to finish my laundry at the wash house. My friend came in and asked why I was in such a hurry. So I told her about my dilemma. As we left with our arms full of folded clothes she said, "Come with me." At her house she started taking things out of her freezer and her pantry. As she worked she talked. You can make this and this and add this. She had it in bags before I could put two words together. She handed it to me and said, "Don't you worry about paying this back." I was speechless.

Our company came. We had a marvelous dinner and wonderful fellowship. I felt overcome with blessings.

I wonder what kind of emotions I would have if Jesus were to call and say, "I'm coming to your house today!" Joy, excitement, nervousness, ... I'm sure that, (being the Martha person that I am,) I would start to sweep and mop and straighten and polish. But I'm equally sure that Jesus would not care about the house. He would look into my eyes and my heart and just want to fellowship with me. I think He would want to talk about how much He loves me. Maybe He would notice that I've grown in some areas in my life, like studying His word and my prayer life.

Then, Oh my goodness, despair at the thought that He might want to talk about some areas of my life that need so much work! I can't seem to get some of those places cleaned up.

I could never do enough cleaning and preparation for Jesus to come. But, you know what? I don't have to. He wants me to give my heart to Him. Just hold it out to Him. He'll straighten and polish it. He'll make it white as snow. (Isaiah 1:18)

Welcome Jesus gladly. Zaccheus did. I did.