Welcome Home

But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” —Matthew 8:20 NLT

They are arriving. Slowly and steadily our house fills, and noise and laughter increase. It’s Friday night and time for our home group to meet together, study the Word, pray, and share. My heart swells along with the noise level. I love each couple, each single, and each little child who enters our home. The coffee smells rich and inviting, the table is full of fruit and cheese, crackers and nuts. The lights are on, and all are welcomed.

Home. Ours is a simple one really. A raised ranch. Architecturally boring in an unpretentious neighborhood. But I love our home. It has that built in bookcase that first attracted my husband, and the elaborate brick fireplace and hearth that definitely attracted me. Best of all, despite its tiny kitchen, it boasts a versatile living room and dining room, big enough to create a circle of assorted couches, chairs, and benches easily seating 20 people. One of my greatest joys is welcoming people into this space. I like being home.

It’s hard to fathom, but Jesus, when He walked this earth as a preacher, had no home. No place to welcome visitors. He couldn’t invite anyone over for coffee and study. He was dependent on the hospitality of others for any dinner parties, and He often slept outdoors with the stars and trees and rocks for decoration. In truth, He was dependent on others for everything. Once He left Nazareth, He had no paying job. He lived by donations and gifts and God’s unfailing provision.

It’s stunning, really, the choices He made and the hard things He went through. How very, very good that God would choose to live that way. He can identify with countless hardships through personal experience as a human being. He was betrayed by a friend, probably fatherless at a young age, definitely poor, and often misunderstood even by his own family. But to also be homeless? To have no place to call His own? Somehow that seems really hard. I mean, even birds have their nests, right? It’s a natural thing here on earth to have a place to call your own. Jesus didn’t.

Jesus can identify with those who wander without a guaranteed place to even lay their heads. Today’s refugees fleeing their homelands, war widows and children, whose homes have been blown to ashes, and all those who are lost can take comfort in knowing that their God, when He put on flesh, chose to be identified with them. The “least of these.” Oh, what a marvelous God we serve!

In Scripture, though, Jesus often talks about home—His Father’s home. “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (John 14:1-3 NLT). You can hear the eagerness in His words as He shares with His disciples. No dwelling here on earth can compare to the home being prepared for us. Someday, we will leave our failing bodies here on earth and be clothed in heavenly ones. We’ll see what we can barely imagine. A place prepared with us in mind. And waiting for us will be the One who had no home here, but who joyously says to us as we arrive, “Welcome home.”

My Lord and Savior. How humbled I am when I realize You chose to be homeless and poor during Your time of ministry on earth. You chose to be dependent on the mercy of others, fully trusting Your Heavenly Father to provide. Thank You, Lord, for choosing the obscure way, the way of poverty, the small way. You know how the poorest of us lives. And thank You for the preparations going on right now for Your people to join You in the home prepared just for us! Thank You for joyfully wanting us to dwell with You forever. Lord, we look forward to the day when You call us … HOME. Amen.

You are loved,
Sharon

Sweet Selah Ministries

Vision
To encourage a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth that stillness and knowing God matter most—
and will be reflected in more effective work and service

Mission 
To offer resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)

Donate
If you’ve been blessed, keep the blessing going!
Click over to our Donation page … and thanks.

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