Upon reading my devotion this morning, I came across this scripture, Exodus 25:8 “I want the people of Israel to build me a sacred residence where I can live among them.”
I began to think of my home and wonder, “am I making it a “sacred residence that He can live among us?” As I think about that, I have to remember that when we moved into this home, both Randy and I dedicated it to the Lord and told Him that this was His house. That He could use it for anything HE wanted!. As I look back over the last 3 years, I remembered “taking it back” many times from the Lord. There have been times when I knew that I should be inviting someone over who just needed a night of laughter, encouragment and a meal, but I was “too busy”. There have been times when I think back of nights when we sat in front of the television, when in fact, we could have had the new minister and his family over, to welcome them to our church; or a new widow that is still trying to get adjusted to eatting dinner alone every night.
There were nights when Randy and I would sit there talking about tired we are of being so busy and not much time to ourselves. Then when I read this mornings scripture………it reminded me that we had told the Lord that this was His house, and that it means, not just when it is convenient for us, but at all times, for whenever He desires to open it to others. The scripture, “you might just be entertaining angels unaware” comes to mind. We both feel that we have entertained “angels, unaware” at certain times, and it was those times when we were the ones to receive the blessing. Is my home always open to who God puts on the doorstep? Is it warm and inviting? Do I treat each person that walks in that door as important as another? Do I share the Love of Christ to them? Is Christ reflected in my smile or welcome? Do they leave this home feeling that they have been in a “sacred residence” one which honors the Lord, that only edification and encouragement was heard?
Will you join me in making this year the year of making our homes a “sacred residence”? Let’s honor God where we are, our homes! Let’s make it a place where our husbands want to come home and our children want to be there. Let’s use our homes as an extention of God’s love to whoever He brings to our front door.
Chocolate Castles 