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
The word ‘home’ can mean many things to us, depending on our own experience, good or bad. Jesus is using the word out of his own deep, intimate relationship of mutual trust and love between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who in turn offer to make their home with us. This is “an inner place within me where God has chosen to dwell” as Henri Nouwen puts it, “a place where I am held safe in the embrace of an all-loving Father who calls me by name…where I can taste the joy and peace that are not of this world.”
This is not a ‘pop in’ visit. When God makes his home with us, he is part of our everyday lives, sees the good and bad, helps us with spring cleaning of those ‘dark cupboards’ and making decisions about our finances, relationships and hobbies.
He may even decide we need to throw stuff out to make room for him to work! Jesus links the intimacy of God making his home with us to our response of love and obedience.
Let's Pray...
That we will not close off parts of our lives to God’s presence through disobedience or fear.
That we will truly be able to make our home where God has made his and listen to his heart.