Take a moment to pray before we begin. Ask God to help you absorb His desire to be with you like a thirsty sponge today. Ask to grow in relationship with Him. Ask Him to teach you, today, and to mold and change your heart.
A well-known phrase says, “home is where the heart is.” This is not far from the truth. You can always tell what is important to someone by how they assign priorities in their life. What is important to you? Would others who observe your behavior agree with that? Now let’s examine what is important to God. Read Mark 12:28-31. Jesus told the teachers of the law what the most important commandment is.
Do you love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength? That’s a lot of loving! Maybe it’s easier to love your neighbor as yourself? I think not. Love isn’t supposed to be easy, it’s a mark of godly character. It is evidence of God’s presence in your life. In fact, love is the first fruit of the Spirit quality named in Galatians 5:22-23.
These nine traits are evidence of a Christian’s maturity, just as the appearance of fruit on a plant is evidence of that plant’s maturity. But developing fruit takes effort. The plant must be fed and watered and pruned to be productive. We must undergo the same laborious processes as God’s children.
The House That Jesus Built
Jesus has gone to heaven to prepare a place for us. Isn’t that exciting? I can almost see Him in His tool belt using hammer, saw and sander. A true Master Carpenter is personally creating our dwelling in paradise. WOW! I am always blown away when I think about this. Personally, I don’t care if my heavenly dwelling is a shack as long as I’m in His presence.
There is comfort, belonging and dependence, and God is both at home and on the road with each of us. Look up the following list of scriptures. Make note of some of the benefits of dwelling with our Heavenly Father. Exodus 29:46, Psalm 23:6, Psalm 27:4, Psalm 61:4, Psalm 78:69, Psalm 91:1.
Here’s another mind-blower! Ephesians 2 says that we, the Body of Christ, are God’s dwelling place. We are all being built into one “sanctuary” with Jesus as the cornerstone! Sit quietly and let that sink in for a minute.
It Doesn’t Have To Be A Mansion
God’s first sanctuary, His tabernacle, His “home,” His holy dwelling place was a tent! The King of the Universe doesn’t need much, does He? God truly knows how to enjoy the little things. In fact, it is written that our bodies are “tents” and His Spirit lives in us. (Check out 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 and 2 Peter 1:13.) But we’re not just tents anymore.
It’s true, dear family, the King of the Universe doesn’t need much, but He wants us! Are you part of God’s family? Have you allowed Him to adopt you? If you have, praise Him for it! If you haven’t but want to be a part of the family, pray this prayer:
Lord Jesus, I confess to You today that I am a sinner. I am sorry for my sin, and I want You to teach me how to live a blameless life. Thank You for dying for me on the cross. I invite You to come and live in my heart right now. Thank You for washing away my sin and entering my life. I pray this in Your marvelous name, Lord Jesus. Amen.
If you’d like a challenge, I suggest you memorize Psalm 15:1.
A well-known phrase says, “home is where the heart is.” This is not far from the truth. You can always tell what is important to someone by how they assign priorities in their life. What is important to you? Would others who observe your behavior agree with that? Now let’s examine what is important to God. Read Mark 12:28-31. Jesus told the teachers of the law what the most important commandment is.
Do you love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength? That’s a lot of loving! Maybe it’s easier to love your neighbor as yourself? I think not. Love isn’t supposed to be easy, it’s a mark of godly character. It is evidence of God’s presence in your life. In fact, love is the first fruit of the Spirit quality named in Galatians 5:22-23.
These nine traits are evidence of a Christian’s maturity, just as the appearance of fruit on a plant is evidence of that plant’s maturity. But developing fruit takes effort. The plant must be fed and watered and pruned to be productive. We must undergo the same laborious processes as God’s children.
The House That Jesus Built
Jesus has gone to heaven to prepare a place for us. Isn’t that exciting? I can almost see Him in His tool belt using hammer, saw and sander. A true Master Carpenter is personally creating our dwelling in paradise. WOW! I am always blown away when I think about this. Personally, I don’t care if my heavenly dwelling is a shack as long as I’m in His presence.
There is comfort, belonging and dependence, and God is both at home and on the road with each of us. Look up the following list of scriptures. Make note of some of the benefits of dwelling with our Heavenly Father. Exodus 29:46, Psalm 23:6, Psalm 27:4, Psalm 61:4, Psalm 78:69, Psalm 91:1.
Here’s another mind-blower! Ephesians 2 says that we, the Body of Christ, are God’s dwelling place. We are all being built into one “sanctuary” with Jesus as the cornerstone! Sit quietly and let that sink in for a minute.
It Doesn’t Have To Be A Mansion
God’s first sanctuary, His tabernacle, His “home,” His holy dwelling place was a tent! The King of the Universe doesn’t need much, does He? God truly knows how to enjoy the little things. In fact, it is written that our bodies are “tents” and His Spirit lives in us. (Check out 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 and 2 Peter 1:13.) But we’re not just tents anymore.
It’s true, dear family, the King of the Universe doesn’t need much, but He wants us! Are you part of God’s family? Have you allowed Him to adopt you? If you have, praise Him for it! If you haven’t but want to be a part of the family, pray this prayer:
Lord Jesus, I confess to You today that I am a sinner. I am sorry for my sin, and I want You to teach me how to live a blameless life. Thank You for dying for me on the cross. I invite You to come and live in my heart right now. Thank You for washing away my sin and entering my life. I pray this in Your marvelous name, Lord Jesus. Amen.
If you’d like a challenge, I suggest you memorize Psalm 15:1.
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