Living as a Guest

 Devotion: Guest of the Master

Scripture:
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” — John 15:7 (KJV)

---

Reflection:
As we've journeyed through the meaning of abide in John 15:7, we’ve uncovered layers of truth in the word. Yesterday, we looked at abiding as living like a guest—a powerful image that holds deep spiritual significance. A guest doesn’t make the rules. A guest doesn’t redecorate or take over. A guest simply trusts and submits to the authority and provision of the host.

But today, let’s go deeper. What does this really mean for us?

When you’re a guest in someone’s home, your comfort and care are in the hands of your host. You don’t bring your own furniture, your own plans, or your own authority. You respond to what’s been prepared for you. You follow the house rules. You live in submission—and with that submission comes peace, because the burden of control is not yours.

Contrast that with how many of us live day to day—constantly juggling responsibilities, reacting to stress, trying to balance life on a teetering see-saw. We’ve bought into a Greek model of life: one where we are at the center, where balance and fulfillment depend on our ability to manage everything correctly. If we work hard enough, plan well enough, and control all the variables, then surely we’ll achieve happiness.

But Scripture offers a different picture. The Hebraic model—God’s model—places Him at the center. Our only responsibility is our relationship with Him. That is the only piece we are called to manage. Everything else rests in His hands.

This is the freedom of the guest. The guest has no ultimate control, but he has complete security in the hands of the Master. When we live this way—abiding in Christ—we are freed from the tyranny of self and the illusion of control. We no longer live on the edge of imbalance, but in the restful assurance that our Host is sovereign and good.

---

Contemplation:

• Do I live like a guest in the Lord’s house, or have I tried to take over and make the rules?

• What areas of my life reflect the Greek model—placing myself at the center and bearing weight I was never meant to carry?

• What would change in my heart if I surrendered those burdens and focused solely on nurturing my relationship with God?

---

Prayer:
Father, I thank You for inviting me into Your house—to abide as a guest under Your perfect care. Forgive me for the times I have pushed You aside and tried to sit in Your place at the center of my life. I confess my weakness, my weariness, and my need for You. Teach me to rest in Your authority. Help me to live as a faithful guest, focusing only on my relationship with You. Let me find peace and joy in abiding in Your presence, trusting that You are the perfect Master who provides, protects, and guides. I surrender the see-saw of my striving and choose instead to sit at Your feet. In Jesus’ name, Amen.