”Christ is the head of this house, the unseen guest at every meal, the silent listener to every conversation.” Many have a plaque with these words hanging in their home.

It is interesting to consider the difference a guest makes in one’s home, whether it be an elderly parent or a bouncing ten pound baby. When someone comes to stay with us our life style inevitably changes as a result. We are fortunate to have our children and grandchildren visiting us from Canada, and things are really different while they are here.

Our little guests are certainly seen and heard at every meal and the conversation is quite different while they are here than when they are not. Their needs and interests must be considered and we enjoy the childish patter that goes on while they are with us. Everything seems so quiet after they leave and we recall the happy moments that we spent together.

Jesus has offered to become a guest in our home, as the plaque indicates. Of course, one of the big differences is that he is unseen and unheard, but that does not make him any the less there. In fact, he has not only offered to come into our home but he is willing to bring his Father with him, for he has told us, ”If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

Now what change in our life style has taken place as a result of our unseen house guests? We know that the visible house guests make a considerable difference in what we say and do. What effect has the coming of Jesus and his Father into our home made?

If we should say, ”none,” then can we really say that they have made ”their abode with us?” It is impossible for Jesus to be the ”unseen guest at every meal and the silent listener to every conversation” without it having a profound effect upon what we say and do. Even our manners should improve, for good manners are really considerate acts of thoughtfulness for others. Jesus tells us that his Father is ”kind even unto the unthankful,” and that we should be merciful, as our Father also is merciful.” So when someone asks us to pass them a dish at the dinner table, we should respond kindly and thoughtfully to their request even if they were unthankful.

Our conversations in our home will certainly improve when we remember the silent listener, for as David exclaimed, God knows ”our down-sitting and our uprising... there is not a word in our tongue, but, lo, 0 LORD, thou knowest it altogether.” Being aware of the fact that our ”unseen guests” know our every thought, word, and action should make us very careful of how we behave in our own homes. We certainly will not speak evil of others, remembering the wise advice that James gives us: ”Speak not evil one of another, brethren.” Of course, with Jesus and God hearing every word we say, we would not want them to hear us say something unkind about another when the Father Himself is kind even to the unthankful.

When Zacchaeus heard Jesus say to him, ”Make haste... for today I must abide at thy house,” Zacchaeus ”made haste... and received him joyfully.”

There is no doubt that Zacchaeus was never the same again. Having Jesus come and abide in our home will do this for us also. These are not just words to hang on a wall; this is our way of life, having Jesus as our ”unseen guest.”

Let’s make him welcome – no one enjoys being in a home where they are not wanted and it is doubtful that Jesus will remain as our ”unseen guest” if our way of life tells him that he is not wanted or accepted in our home.

Let us heed the knock of Jesus and welcome him into our home with open arms, for he has promised, ”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.”