August 12th, 20

 Where is Home for You?

Today’s readings are Jeremiah 13 – 15 and John 15.  We are reading from the New Living Translation.

Where’s home for you?  I’m not talking about a city or a country.  Those things can change.  I’m talking about where you park your soul.  Where do you reside?  Where’s your abode? Jesus says he wants you to make your home with him. 

Home is not a set of doctrines, traditions, or sentimental memories of time gone by.   He says that there is a direct correlation between making your home with him and abiding or remaining in His Word.  He says to abide in Him and abide in His Word.  He wants you to make your home in His Word.  And don’t forget that it’s a good word – it’s the Gospel   It’s not a condemning word.  It’s a word of Grace.  It  welcomes the tired, the exhausted,  the bruised,  the disappointed, and those burdened with shame and regret. It’s a healing word that says the pressure is off.  Jesus says, Come home to me and make yourself at home in my word.  

This directly corresponds to remaining and abiding in his love.  When you‘ve made yourself at home in his good loving word, you, in turn, will have love to offer others.  You can’t give what you don’t have.  But if you have made your home in him and his loving gracious word, then you will have something to offer this broken, tired, and exhausted world.  You’ll be able to offer Jesus’ love – His Gospel.  And that will bear fruit!  You will be shaped by his love, and his word, and made new.  

Make your home where he is.  Show up every day and learn to remain in his loving Word.  And then sit back and see what happens.  Keep your eye out for the fruit that comes of abiding in Him.

You are loved!