Unexpected Requests

Isaiah 60-62; John 1

“Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, ‘What do you want?’ They said, ‘Rabbi!’ (which means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ ‘Come,’ he replied, ‘and you will see.’ So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.”

John 1:38, 39

Andrew and his friend were following John the Baptist who now pointed them to Jesus. In their first conversation with Jesus they asked him a personal and costly question, “Where are you staying?”

How would we respond?

Given the late hour, this question meant they wanted to stay with Jesus on their first meeting with him.

Are we that approachable as leaders that we invite strangers or new friends to our residence?

Jesus made time available for people who were seeking him. He still has time for those who seek him. As we serve and lead in the way of Jesus, do we make time available for others who are new to our acquaintance?

Do we lead with information, expertise, and influence, but guard our personal space so that unexpected hospitality requests like Jesus received would never happen to us?

What was it about Jesus that made him approachable?

In the area of hospitality, where are we being invited to grow?

“Lord Jesus, you are my example and I desire to love others and open my life to them as you do.”