Does He Feel At Home?

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Good morning.

“Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, ‘But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?’ Jesus replied, ‘If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching,’” (John 14:22-24a).

Jesus implied that those who do not obey His teaching are the world who does not love Him. Why would Jesus reveal Himself to those whom He cannot trust (V21 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2014:21&version=NIV)? Does the world that Judas mentioned maybe include the disobedient church, i.e. the religious people calling themselves Christians, but who do not care much about the Lord and His Kingdom – without love towards the Lord?

Jesus and Abba (Daddy) Father will make home with the obedient. What is home? Isn’t it a place of intimacy where fellowship is relaxed and transparent, a place where you feel comfortable, kick off your shoes and be yourself? If the Lord Jesus and Father make their home with us, would they not also want to “kick off their shoes” and relax, being themselves? How about making a list of the qualities of a home and picture Father and Jesus in it?

A home

·         Is a secure and safe place.

·         Has food and physical care.

·         Have fun, joking, fellowship and playing.

·         Has support of the members among one another.

·         Has open and transparent communication.

·         Has unity.

·         Is a fortress against enemies.

·         Have protective and caring parents.

·         Have obedient children.

·         Is a place where one can be yourself.

·         Is a place where conflict develops character and is handled lovingly.

Does your spiritual home enjoy these characteristics in both directions, i.e. do you e.g. also protect God’s honour in both the physical and spiritual realm or do you only expect protection from Him? Did you know that our deliberate sin causes the world and evil spirits to blaspheme God (2 Samuel 12:14)?

Can the Lord relax in your presence, or must He constantly withdraw due to your sin and attitude of pride? What the Lord said in Isaiah 59:1, 2 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2059:1-2&version=NIV can be put in other words as follows: I want to be close to you and be your Dad, having fun with you as we take on the enemies of the Kingdom on a daily basis. I want to show you my power and have you enjoy my blessings and success for your life, but I have one serious problem. I can’t share a home with a sinful lifestyle, because it brings dishonour to my name in both the physical and spiritual realm and therefore build a wall of resistance between us. Your guilt feelings then prevent you to relax in my presence and my hatred of sin prevents me to be in the sin’s presence and therefore your presence.

Nobody is without sin (1 John 1:8), but “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness,” (1 John 1:9). If, however, we persist with consistent, wilful disobedience to the written Word and the Holy Spirit’s instructions, we are like children displeasing earthly parents – the relationship is hindered and discipline is inevitable (Hebrews 12:4-11 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012:4-11&version=NIV).

Instead of maintaining this family-type intimacy towards God, some of us keep a respectful distance from a “stern and strict Father God”, only talking with Him as if He is far away? Why don’t we allow Abba (Daddy) Father and big brother Jesus to reveal themselves to us, making home with us? Is it maybe because obedience and therefore intimate love would cost us too much in terms of our worldly comfort and -desires? Haven’t we then chosen Mammon in our hearts?

Lord, I’d love you to make home with me.

Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.

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