07
Make Room
Jon Burgess“Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.” 2 Corinthians 7:2-4 NIV
The Apostle Paul urges the church in Corinth to "make room" in their hearts for him and the words of correction and instruction he brings from the Lord. It is for their benefit but, is wasted upon ears who do not want to hear. He then uses his own life to show the benefits of not letting the heart get crowded with offenses, divisions, and pride. When there is room in your heart for the ones God brings you it's proven in how we treat them. Paul isn't pushing them away but calling them closer. Paul isn't just saying what's easy but, what's needed. He isn't just trying to be polite, he's contending for their freedom. When he is suffering he doesn't resent those who aren't but, finds joy through it when he thinks of them! How crowded are the hearts in Corinth that everything he brings in correction is taken as condemnation? How crowded are their hearts that everything offered to help is taken as an offense to hurt?
I remember when we were moving from Seattle to Big Island and the moving company packed everything we owned in boxes. We were literally creating tunnels to get from one place to another because there was no room! If we aren't careful we pack boxes every single day in our hearts and eventually run out of room and have no space for anyone else. We pack in unforgiveness, resentment, offense, wounds, bias, and oh so many words. Some of these are bigger then others in our lives but if we don't take them to the altar and get them out of the house of our heart then we put them in boxes and have no room for anyone to come with correction, directions, instructions, or healing. This hit me hard yesterday when I was talking with Cyndi. She mentioned someone was dropping by to visit and I reacted in a way that surprised her and I. Cyndi being the loving wife, who like Paul, had made room in her heart, was honest with me. She called me on some unforgiveness that I was still holding on to from a past wound. I had run out of room in my heart for this person and was missing out on a God-given relationship. It was time to unpack some boxes and make some room for this persons arrival.
Lord, I don't want miss out on the gifts You bring me. I don't want to turn away the message You bring because I have left no room in my heart for that person. Forgive me for filling up the rooms in my life with resentment, unforgiveness and offense. I want to make room for all You bring no matter who it comes through!
