A little girl was asked where her home was and she replied, “Where Mother is.” Here was one who viewed home not in relation to a place, but rather to a relationship and wherever that relationship took her, that was home. A contrast to this view has been expressed in the statement, “Many modern homes are merely filling stations.” [source: sentence sermons] This second description appears to portray a home as merely a place where one goes to eat (and perhaps sleep), but most of the time is rather spent elsewhere.
Home! What is our view of it? Is it a place to get or a place to be? For home to be viewed as a place to be we must not only have a desire to be there but also recognize our own contribution to making it be a place where there is a desire to be present. We need to do our part to create a sense of homeness.
Note Jesus’ words in response to a question by Judas (not Iscariot). We read. . .
“(23) Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”” (John 14:23 ESV)
We sing a hymn with the refrain, “Anywhere is home, If Christ, my Lord, is there.” [by John M. Henson and Homer F. Morris, © 1927] As the little girl mentioned above felt home was where her mother was, do we sense that at homeness in our relationship with Jesus? We are to be open to being that home for Him; the place to be, regardless of geographic location! It is the closeness He desires. What an amazing blessing to realize how Deity desires to be at home with us.
Though it was noted negatively above, there is a positive sense in which this homeness may be associated as a “filling station”. Note Jesus also mentioned “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, . . .” Homes may be filled with lots of words, but our life is to be filled with His! His Word is to be at home with us, dwelling in us richly. (Colossians 3:16)
Are we allowing our life to be that place to be? The place where Christ is! The place where the Father is! The place where the Word is! A home where a heart of righteousness has taken up residence! There’s no better way to keep the home fires burning and creating a perpetual sense of welcomeness that will stretch on into eternity. May we, in humility, keep an open door for the Lord.
Have a great day BEING A HUMBLED AND HOLY HABITATION!
Carl
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