And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.   And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (Matt.8:19-20-KJV)

 

 

 I BELIEVE THAT HOME IS NOT NECESSARILY A HOME AS WE THINK OF IT. SOME PEOPLE FEEL IF THEY ARE ACTUALLY RESIDING IN A SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING THEY HAVE A HOME.  I DON’T THINK SO.  IF YOU ARE NOT DWELLING THERE IN LOVE TOGETHER, THEN IT IS NOT A HOME, IF YOU DREAD GOING THERE, OR YOU ARE NOT SPENDING QUALITY TIME THERE, I WOULD LIKE US TO ASK OURSELVES IS THIS REALLY HOME?   THE WORD OF GOD SAYS; He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty (PS. 91:1 (KJV) I LOOKED UP THE WORD DWELL AND IT MEANS TO LIVE, RESIDE, TO LINGER OVER WITH EMPHASIS ON THE WORD LINGER.  I LOOKED UP THE WORD LINGER AND IT MEANS TO REMAIN, TARRY, TO PERSIST OR PROCRASTINATE.  IN OTHER WORDS, TO SPEND SOME TIME THERE. THE BIBLE SAYS, Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?  (AMOS 3:3-NKJV) I AM NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE ALWAYS AGREE, WE ARE HUMAN, HOWEVER, WE SHOULD BE IN AGREEMENT WITH ONE ANOTHER MORE OFTEN THAN NOT -THAT SHOWS COMPASSION AND EXCEPTANCE OF OUR DIFFERENCES.  I AM A FIRM BELIEVER THAT WE CAN DWELL IN A TWO ROOM SHACK AND IT CAN BE HOME COMPARED TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO LIVES IN A 7 BEDROOM HOUSE AND NOT HAVE ANY PEACE.  I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE CONDEMN OTHERS BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY LIVE OR WHERE THEY LIVE.  IT IS BETTER TO HAVE A TWO ROOM SHACK THAT IS FILLED WITH LOVE, COMPASSION UNDERSTANDING HELPING ONE ANOTHER AND THE LIST GOES ON, RATHER THAN A SEVEN BEDROOM HOUSE THAT IS A RESIDENCE.  IF THE TWO ROOMS WE HAVE IS A PLACE THAT YOU AND YOURS LOOK FORWARD TO COMING TO AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND OTHERS WANT TO BE THERE AS WELL, THENIT IS HOME.  ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU CAN LIVE IN A SEVEN BEDROOM HOUSE WHERE NO ONE DESIRES TO COME TO, AND WHEN THEY COME TO THE HOUSE, SOMEBODY IS UPSTAIRS, SOMEBODY IS IN THE BASEMENT, SOMEBODY ELSE IS IN THE FAMILY ROOM AND SOMEBODY ELSE IS IN THEIR ROOM WITH THE DOOR SHUT, IT IS JUST A HOUSE DIVIDED.  IT WOULD TAKE A LOT OF WORK FOR IT TO BECOMES A HOME.

 

THERE IS An OLD ADAGE THAT SAYS, DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER.  JUST BECAUSE THE COVER IS ATTRACTIVE, DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE BOOK IS GOOD.  IN OTHER WORDS DO NOT GET DISTRACTED WITH PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THESE LARGE HOUSES AND YOU THINK  THEY ARE LIVING A GOOD LIFE, LET ME REMIND YOU   SOME OF THEM ARE NOT SPEAKING TO ONE ANOTHER, THEY STAY AT WORK FOR AS LONG AS THEY CAN DREADING GOING TO THAT HOUSE, THEY SLEEP IN SEPARATE BEDROOMS, OH THE HOUSE MAY BE BEAUTIFUL OUTSIDE AND INSIDE, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THERE IS ANY DWELLING GOING ON.

I KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE HOUSES WHEN THEY MET SOMEONE ELSE; THEY MARRY THAT PERSON, BUT NEVER GET RID OF THE HOUSE THAT THEY LIVED IN PREVIOUSLY BECAUSE THEY MIGHT HAVE TO GO BACK IF THEY CANNOT MAKE THE PRESENT HOUSE A HOME.  THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON WHO IS NEEDED TO MAKE OUR HOUSES A HOME IS THE PRESENCE OF JESUS CHRIST.

 

IF CHRIST DOES NOT DWELL WHERE WE ARE, BELOVED, WE ARE FOOLING OURSELVES AND LIVING A LIE. REMEMBER, MAN LOOKS AT THE OUTSIDE, BUT CHRIST LOOKS AT THE INSIDE, SO BE ENCOURAGED WHEREVER YOU ARE AS YOU CONTINUE TO MAKE YOUR DWELLING PLACE A HOME.