Moved In!

When we have an honored guest in our home we generally try to be as hospitable as possible. However, if that guest moved in, would we begin to relax back into old habits and stop being as accommodating with them as we had been previously? Would we begin to treat them "as family"? (Unfortunately family members are sometimes taken for granted and may not always be treated well.) How long does it take for one to overstay their welcome? Perhaps that depends on who it is and how they settle into the schedules surrounding our home life. However, how would we react with one who moved in with the expectation we do everything THEIR WAY? Do we see a problem with that? Would that be considered going a bit too far? Is that where we would draw the line? Would we tell them, "You can't expect to come in here and change everything to suit you!" Yet, is that not our Lord's expectation? (i.e. 2 Corinthians 5:17)

Someone has posed the question, "Is Jesus Christ considered as an honored guest in your home, or as an abiding resident?" [original source unknown]

Jesus stated. . .
"(21) 'Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.' (22) Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, 'Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?' (23) Jesus answered him, 'If anyone LOVES ME, he will KEEP MY WORD, and my Father will love him, and WE WILL COME TO HIM AND MAKE OUR HOME WITH HIM.'" ( John 14:21-23 ESV)

Is Jesus an ABIDING RESIDENT in our life? If so, are we continuing to seek to PLEASE HIM? With Jesus moved in, self must be moved over to provide room for Him. Old habits need to be set aside or tossed out as we strive to take on a lifestyle that accommodates HIS PRESENCE. Do OUR ACTIONS live up to HIS ASPIRATIONS? Are OUR AMBITIONS paralleling HIS AIMS for our life? Do OUR DECISIONS accommodate HIS DESIRES? Is OUR PLANNING in accord with HIS PREFERENCES? Do OUR PRIORITIES reflect HIS PURPOSES for living? Do OUR WISHES correlate with HIS WILL?

Let us be eagerly willing to remove the clutter (ideas, habits, disorder, etc.) from our life so as to provide a suitable residence for our Lord. We can have no better life than one wherein Jesus continually resides. Allowing Him to be at home within us now prepares us for when we will be taken to be at home with Him for eternity. ( 2 Corinthians 5:8) May we let our life be wholly HIS HOME!

Have a great day GIVING CHRIST FREE REIGN IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIFE!
Carl

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