John 15:9-14
“I’ve loved you the way my
Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my
commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve
done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love.
“I’ve
told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and
your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I
loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line
for your friends.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
Anyone who knows us very well
knows that we are huge “homebodies.” As founders and publishers of
Workamper News*, a magazine and website that tell people how to find
work while traveling…people readily assumed that Greg and I were
criss-crossing the country in an RV. In truth, for the 18 years we owned
this business – and in the years since – we’ve rarely gone anywhere.
Our business was home-based for most of the first 16 years…quite
literally in an adjoining room of our house for about a decade. For
another six years or so, our office was located a short golf-cart ride away - but still on the same property. We could – and did – work in our pajamas, if we wanted!
Thankfully
Greg and I get along quite well, because we have been virtually
inseparable since 1987! We are blessed with a special relationship that
allows us to live and work together amicably…and to give each other “space” for
special interests/hobbies. We revel in our individual joys, as well as
common purposes. Like many couples who have been together for a long
time, we share experiences…joys and triumphs – and heartaches and
concerns. There is nothing that we would not do for each other…no
burden OR delight that we would not take on together.
As idyllic
as this all sounds, I have to tell you that I firmly believe the only
reason such a relationship is possible is because we are “at home” in
the love of Christ. We are just as comfortable in our relationship with
Jesus as we are with each other. We have made ourselves at home in His
love. Jesus shares our joys, triumphs and accomplishments…and our
disappointments, burdens and sorrows. He undergirds everything about
our lives and creates a safe haven in which to rest and reside.
As
I grow in my relationship with Jesus, I have less and less desire or
temptation to “travel” to areas that don’t include Him. The “lure” of
sin has lost its appeal. I find that I stop in my tracks more often
if/when I am tempted to speak or act in a manner that might disrespect
or degrade our relationship in any way. I am quite cozy, comfortable,
and “at home” in the arms of Jesus.
This does not mean that I am
complacent. With any “home,” maintenance and upkeep are required…and it
is no different in my relationship with Jesus. We must cultivate and
nurture conversation, shared activities and goals…and Christ’s mission.
We must make the time and effort to encourage others to settle in with
Him, as well…and we must demonstrate His love by loving them just as He does.
Take
some time today to think about your home. Is it a place you pass
through on your way to something or somewhere else? Are you comfortable
there…secure and content? Would you say that this describes your
“home” in the love of Christ? Is your relationship with Jesus like a
place where you store your clothes and other belongings…but spend little
to no time there? Or do you delight in dwelling in His presence and
serving as His disciple?
Are you in some ways running from
Jesus…and does it show in your daily living? Are you ready to fully
embrace your relationship with Christ – and then share the blessings of
His love with others? Will this be the day that your joy fully matures
and you settle in to “make your home” with Him? Don’t you want it to
be?
©2016 Debbie Robus
*http://workamper.com
Showing posts with label creating a home for Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label creating a home for Jesus. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for April 21, 2015
Psalms 122:1-2
When they said, “Let’s go to the house of God,”
my heart leaped for joy.
And now we’re here, O Jerusalem,
inside Jerusalem’s walls!
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When we picked the children up from Sunday school, Timothy met us at the door, excitedly saying over and over…“We had a special guest today - his name was PAUL!” Another child’s dad had portrayed the Apostle Paul and “visited” the K-1 class. As we drove home, Timothy told us all about Paul…how he had been tossed into the sea…then he wandered the desert…soldiers “punched him” and threw him in jail…and he wrote letters to another boy named Timothy! OUR Timothy was so impressed and excited…and he has since told his mom and others about the “special guest” who came to visit on Sunday.
I have no doubt that this little guy will be eager to return to the house of God. He will be anxious to learn more about Paul and his friends. This dad and the Sunday school teacher made the Bible come alive for these children…and this makes MY heart leap for joy!
It seems like we often forget just how interesting and exciting God’s word can be. We fail to fully grasp the inspiration of the stories of faith and courage as demonstrated by people like Moses, Ruth and Naomi, Daniel, and Paul. We overlook the “human” examples of how others struggled – and sinned – and experienced the grace, mercy, forgiveness and blessings of God…people like David, Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, and Peter. We fail to recognize the lessons in patience and hope that were demonstrated by people like Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth, Abraham, and John the Baptist.
I promise you…there is nothing new under the sun. If you will only open your Bible and start looking, you will discover this for yourself. And you will also see how God has cared for His people all along…how He cares about YOU and me…and how we can tap into His strength and power to overcome anything and everything.
We get so bogged down in things that really don’t matter. We wallow in self-pity and fumble through life wondering about “the answers”. And all the while, they are right in front of us. We don’t know about Paul and Jeremiah and Queen Esther, because we are not focused on God’s word and seeking His truth. We lack the eagerness of an almost-six-year-old to find out more about God and what He offers. And the end result is that we simply “lack” in general – in every area of our lives.
It’s time for a “spiritual makeover”. God has equipped us with everything we need to serve Him, to serve others, and to do this thing we call “life”. He beckons us to “come home”…to seek Him and discover the joy of dwelling “in His house”…to invite Jesus into our hearts and minds and make a place for Him there. We can experience the eagerness of kindergartners and first-graders as we build our faith.
A “special guest” may not appear in our office, classroom – or even the living room! But if we genuinely seek God, He will show up and make our hearts leap. Let us go into the house of the LORD…are you coming with me?
©2015 Debbie Robus
When they said, “Let’s go to the house of God,”
my heart leaped for joy.
And now we’re here, O Jerusalem,
inside Jerusalem’s walls!
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When we picked the children up from Sunday school, Timothy met us at the door, excitedly saying over and over…“We had a special guest today - his name was PAUL!” Another child’s dad had portrayed the Apostle Paul and “visited” the K-1 class. As we drove home, Timothy told us all about Paul…how he had been tossed into the sea…then he wandered the desert…soldiers “punched him” and threw him in jail…and he wrote letters to another boy named Timothy! OUR Timothy was so impressed and excited…and he has since told his mom and others about the “special guest” who came to visit on Sunday.
I have no doubt that this little guy will be eager to return to the house of God. He will be anxious to learn more about Paul and his friends. This dad and the Sunday school teacher made the Bible come alive for these children…and this makes MY heart leap for joy!
It seems like we often forget just how interesting and exciting God’s word can be. We fail to fully grasp the inspiration of the stories of faith and courage as demonstrated by people like Moses, Ruth and Naomi, Daniel, and Paul. We overlook the “human” examples of how others struggled – and sinned – and experienced the grace, mercy, forgiveness and blessings of God…people like David, Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, and Peter. We fail to recognize the lessons in patience and hope that were demonstrated by people like Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth, Abraham, and John the Baptist.
I promise you…there is nothing new under the sun. If you will only open your Bible and start looking, you will discover this for yourself. And you will also see how God has cared for His people all along…how He cares about YOU and me…and how we can tap into His strength and power to overcome anything and everything.
We get so bogged down in things that really don’t matter. We wallow in self-pity and fumble through life wondering about “the answers”. And all the while, they are right in front of us. We don’t know about Paul and Jeremiah and Queen Esther, because we are not focused on God’s word and seeking His truth. We lack the eagerness of an almost-six-year-old to find out more about God and what He offers. And the end result is that we simply “lack” in general – in every area of our lives.
It’s time for a “spiritual makeover”. God has equipped us with everything we need to serve Him, to serve others, and to do this thing we call “life”. He beckons us to “come home”…to seek Him and discover the joy of dwelling “in His house”…to invite Jesus into our hearts and minds and make a place for Him there. We can experience the eagerness of kindergartners and first-graders as we build our faith.
A “special guest” may not appear in our office, classroom – or even the living room! But if we genuinely seek God, He will show up and make our hearts leap. Let us go into the house of the LORD…are you coming with me?
©2015 Debbie Robus
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