The Master In Residence

Moving in, where do you begin?  The house had been swept clean and the remodeling had begun.  We were living in the house during the remodeling so there would continue to be a lot of sweeping and minimal things were moved in so we could live there.

One morning as I was reading through one of my favorite commentaries, “Through the Bible with J. Vernon McGee,” I was reminded that the most important thing to do before continuing was to invite Jesus into the home.  J Vernon McGee told about a sign he had read in a friend’s home that said, “Joy is the flag that is flown in the heart when the Master is in residence.”  He commented that, “When you are walking in the will of God, and you are in the center of His will, and you are having fellowship with Him, you will have joy in your life.  How wonderful it is!”

Several years ago on a trip to Washington, DC, I was told by the tour guide that a flag is flown over the White House when the President is in town.  It was a visual reminder of his presence.  So when I read the commentary I thought how beautiful it would be to have God in residence in the home He gave me.  I want it to be a place where people are loved and feel welcomed.  The theme of “Harvest” was not only the color scheme I would use in the home, but the hope that God would use this home to draw people to Him.  His plan however is to use more than just the home.

The definition of residence is: the place, especially the house, in which a person lives or resides: dwelling place; home.  In 1 Corinthians 6:19 the bible says, “Do you not know that your body is a house of God where the Holy Spirit lives? God gave you His Holy Spirit. Now you belong to God. You do not belong to yourselves.”  I get to be a dwelling place for God!  The way to display the message that God is in residence is not in a physical flag flown over my home, but in the way I live my life.

In the Bible, so many incredible things happened when Jesus was invited in.  At a wedding He was invited to, a miracle happened, He turned water into wine.  He was invited to Matthew’s home and lives were changed.  He was invited to feasts and truth was spoken for those who wanted to hear.  Crowds followed Him everywhere just to be with Him, hear Him and be changed by Him.  Later His disciples were invited into homes, synagogues and arenas to speak about Him.  In Acts 4:13 it says, “They were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”  Do people around me take note that I’ve been with Jesus?

So being in a new neighborhood, what do I want my neighbors to know about me?  I want them to know that I belong to Jesus and that I spend time with Him.  I want them to see that He is in residence, in me.  I want them to see the difference He has made in my life.  That won’t be done by a flag flying in my front yard, a bumper sticker on my car or a cross around my neck.  It will be done by how I live my life.  How I walk my talk.  If I do that, then history will repeat itself and I will be invited in to share Him and that’s my purpose.

My prayer

Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I will look to the Lord; 

 I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me

Father, I invite you to dwell in my heart, my life, my mind and my home.  I want to honor you by the way I live and I want to lead others to you.  It does make me happy when I’m obeying your will.  Help me remember that people are looking for something real.  Let them see You in me.  I pray I will make the most of the opportunities You give me, to point them to You.  Amen

Where does my help come from?

Matthew 25:35 (NIV)

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in”

Colossians 1: 27 (NIV)

“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery,

which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”