Digging through the Scriptures about what does God has to say about a home or a house, I discovered that it is a subject very dear to His heart. He has a house and He is very jealous about it too. He also wishes to share His house with us. Talk about hospitality! God’s house has a rooms prepared for you and me. Jesus said, “I want those you have given me to be with me where I am” (John 17:24). He is preparing a place for us. Wow! We, striving to be homemakers in this world, will one day be with our Father, the perfect Homemaker. We will never end learning from Him how to be a godly home keeper. Hospitality is definitely one of the components of our home. But first I would like to spend a little time pondering on the phrase Jesus said, “It is written, my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Mark 11:17).
1. The Home Is A Place Where His Presence Dwells.
We understand that we are only pilgrims in this world and that we have an eternal home in the world to come (1 Peter 2:11). But while we are here God set up a house for Himself to dwell among His people. The Tabernacle of Moses, or the house of the Lord, is a pattern for us to model our homes after for it is a heavenly pattern (Hebrews 8:4-6). I don’t mean that our homes replace the house of the Lord as we gather on the Sabbath with other believers to worship God. But that His House is an example of what our homes need to be.
A deeper study of the Tabernacle reveals the spiritual truths our homes need to be founded on. I will just briefly make mention of some spiritual pillars to be build in our homes. For example, at the entrance is The Gate, Jesus. He said, “I am the Way” John 14:6). Then we have the Altar of Sacrifice. The Cross of Christ is to be at the center of our homes. Then the Basin of Water represents how the Word of God washes us in our daily walk. In the Holy Place, there is the table of bread, the menorah, and the table of incense. This is also the Word, Light and Prayer. The Holy of Holies is His Presence. Our home needs to be a place where His Presence dwells. I want my guests and my family to have a taste of heaven in my home.
How can I cultivate the Presence of the Lord in my home? The answer is through prayer and worship. The Tabernacle of Moses is foundational, but the Tabernacle of David is for now. God said that in the last days He will restore the Tabernacle of David (Acts 15:16). The Tabernacle of David was filled with prayer and worship continuously. We know of heaven that worship to God is continuous also. The angels and 24 elders worship Him around the throne. We will be worshiping God for eternity. It makes sense that our earthly homes should be training grounds for what we will be doing for eternity. It is something glorious and enjoyable.
Practical ways I do this is by selecting worship music that focus on worship to God for who He is and what He has done. This includes hymns, spiritual songs, songs of thanksgiving, lots of children’s praise and certain classical music will be included in my collection like Handel’s Messiah who wrote it after hearing the music of heaven. I play this music softly in the background for a good part of the day. Sometimes it will play all day and night for days. But our favorite times is when Dad leads the worship in his guitar. You will discover that as worship fills the environment of your home, prayer will be an overflow of that worship and it will be so enjoyable that you could pray for hours like this. Therefore, you will be cultivating the Presence of the Lord in your home turning it into a sanctuary where His glory dwells. Imagine the impact on those children! We sing praises as we do chores. This helps the children do their work heartedly unto the Lord instead of getting distracted or complaining. We would be less likely to enter into contentions and impatience.There are so many creative ways to make our homes also a house of prayer. What are some ways you enjoy prayer in your home with your family?
The Home - Part 4
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