Making Room

Southern hospitality is legendary but it is also very real. I have been blessed to have learned from the example of my mother, grandmothers and aunts. To properly host guests requires preparation and forethought. You want those that come in to feel comfortable and welcome. The space should be tidy. The floor swept. The table cloth should be fresh. Refreshment ready to serve.

And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.  2 Kings 4:8‭-‬10 KJV

2 Kings tells us of a great lady. She could probably teach all of us a thing or two about hospitality. We don’t know her name, but her actions speak louder than any name. Elisha passed by her home on the way to Shunem. The Bible says she constrained thim to eat bread. The Hebrew word there is hazaq. It is the same word that is used for when the angels took ahold of Lot and his family bringing them out of Sodom. She had no intention of Elisha passing by without food and rest. This wasn’t a one time invitation, but the Bible tells us that any time he passed by he would stop in to eat with her. He had an open invitation.

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The open invitation wasn’t enough for this great woman. It wasn’t enough that the prophet was comfortable enough in her home to visit regularly. She wanted to create a place where he could dwell. She didn’t just clean out the spare room and tell him he could use it whenever he wanted. She actually had her husband build an addition to their home for him. He would never have to share this space and could stay however long he needed. He had a bed to rest, a table to sit and work as well as a candle to illuminate the night.

Our church takes thirty minutes before service starts to have “pre-service prayer.” One  evening before Bible Study I was praying. I can’t remember if it was one of those nights we were getting there by the skin of our teeth or if we came dragging in, tired from the day. As I was sitting there going through the motions of praying for the service, I felt a prick in my heart. “Did you make room for me?” Talk about a hit to the heart. Was I at service that night just because that is what we do and it is expected or was I making room in my week to spend with God? Was I being more hospitable to the cares of this life or God? I was praying for God’s will in the service but had I set aside space for God to have His liberty in my life.

The great woman not only invited the prophet to eat but made a dwelling for the prophet, a bed to rest, a table to sit and work as well as a candle to illuminate. Should I not do the same for my God. Does He have a permanent place in my life or do I regulate Him to the church building? Have we made a place for God to dwell or just a place for visits? Can He work in my life and find subsidence? Can He light my life? Or do I just want Him to visit?

So many amazing things happened in the great woman’s life because she made space for the prophet. She requested nothing when asked what the prophet could do for her. She just wanted to bless the prophet. Though she was content, she was childless. God blessed her with a son. When that son died suddenly, the prophet brought him back to life. 

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring [it] to pass. - Psalm 37:4-5 KJV

There is a song that has been running through my heart as I write this.

Make Room
By Jonahan McReynolds

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

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20 KJV

God is standing at the door of our lives. He is knocking. He wants to come in. He wants to commune with us. He wants to dwell with us. He wants to bring light. We have to make space and open the door. Have you made room for Him?

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