Skip to main content

Making Himself At Home

             Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. (John 14:23) 

I don’t know about you, but I’m not comfortable playing host. There are times when I think I’m absolutely horrible not only as a host, but as a housemate and pet-owner. We’re back to the same old problem – definitions. What does a good host look like? What are the rules? In this verse, Jesus talks about a prerequisite to the position of host – obedience. I’m not so good at that, either, for the same reasons. Obedience to what? Obedient how? What are the rules?

Some would probably say that the point of being a host is to spend time enjoying the company. But what time is breakfast? What do I make for dinner? Do I maintain my normal routine?  It would either stress them or bore them to tears. Do I make plans for place to take them? Do I empty my schedule and stand gazing at them, making my whole existence about waiting on them hand and foot? I mean, I’m bad enough at this with mere mortals, can you imagine hosting the Lord?

What all of this points to is that I’m a Martha. And it’s made worse by the notion that Jesus and His Father aren’t talking about stopping by for 15 minutes and letting me go on with my life. Their plan is to move in. And that’s my desire, too – but how does this work, in practical terms?

The good news side of this is that while I panic at the notion of trying to be a good host, God is a perfect guest. His presence isn’t about my jumping through hoops and standing around doing nothing in case He might want something. Yes, it’s appropriate for me to be responsive to His preferences, but He also gave me my life. He gave me my personality. Somehow, I don’t think He intends to sit down and be waited on hand-and-foot. There is at least the possibility that He might want to help me with the gardening or listen to me trying to process what’s going on in my story. There’s a chance that He might not be jealous, but instead be supportive.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

The List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more