August 22, 2018

Where Is Home?

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

What does home look like to you? Is it a place? Or is it the people that you love? Is it a particular state or city? Maybe it’s the house you grew up in or the house you live in now?

We all have a different definition of home. For some home is a safe haven but for others it’s filled with danger. For some home is where you are loved and accepted but for others home is where you are hated and cast out.

It’s taken me a long time to fully understand that I am always home with Jesus. There is a peace, a safety, that rests in the Presence of Jesus. He is with me now and one day I will dwell with Him forever in heaven. All this? It’s just temporary.

Have you ever noticed how often the Bible talks about places? Why do you think that is? Perhaps we are alive in this time for a reason. Perhaps we are also in this particular place for a reason. Have you ever considered that?

Because Jesus lives within us, we become the light of Jesus. Everywhere we go, our light shines out. Sometimes it shines in a good way. Sometimes we say or do things that dim how others see Jesus. But our light is always there.

So, consider your daily routine. Did you stop by the gas station on your way to work? What did others see? Were you crabby? Were you kind? Did you ignore others? Whether you were aware of it or not, you were representing Jesus.

What about your job? Do others note your integrity, the peaceful way you handle tough clients, the dedication you give to even menial tasks? Or do they talk about how well you play office politics? Are you cut-throat? Do you bark orders or whine about your work load? You’re representing Jesus. What do others see and hear?

If Jesus truly is at home in us, we represent Him everywhere we go. Every word we say and everything we do becomes a testimony to Him and about Him. We can’t turn that off but we sure can clean it up.

Imagine Jesus is walking beside you every day, all day long. How does your behavior change? What about your words? That’s how you should live. Because He is with you every moment of every single day.