Carina Francke

Scripture: John 14:23: "Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him."

The past two days we considered how our Father takes up residence in our lives through the Holy Spirit, turns our lives around and renews and recreatesus into light houses, but most importantly, to make a home where He feels welcome. He sticks to His promise:"For we are the temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in and with and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.(2 Corinthians 6:16)

When we move into a renovated house, we add character and personalize it by furnishing and decorating the inside. Yet, it only grows into a home when the people of the house have good relationships, when they socialize, laugh, play and cry together and when visitors feel at home.

You and I have something to give when it comes to growing our renovated houses into homes where His Spirit feels welcomed, at home and at ease. The key is LOVE, God's love. Firstly it is the kind of love for God that encompasses everything you are: your body, heart, soul and mind.  With this kind of love we ought to love our neighbor none less than we love ourselves. Matt 22:37-39

In John 14:21,23 Jesus connects obedience as proof of our love for Him, “Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; " but He gives a promise when we adhere to this command, "My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him." (Ampl.)

As reborn believer, your Creator and Renovator lives in your life's house. Thus, the question you and I have to answer to ourselves is: are we so overwhelmed by our love for Him that we take seriously everything written in his Word and do as is asked? If the answer is Yes! only then can we recreate His residence into a home.

Do I hear you think, "It's impossible to do that!" Then I want to put your mind at ease: our honorary House Member made provision for youto do exactly that. He performed a spiritual circumcision by stripping off the body of flesh (Col 2:11) and He enables you.  Therefore, nothing is impossible!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I cannot make you feel at home on my own. Thus I ask You this morning: Help me to be so clearly conscious of Your presence, that love for and obedience to Your word, will be a natural outflow of my life.  Amen.