Making Yourself At Home!

John 15:9-10 (The Message)

“I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done—kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love.

 

.. Leadership of Jesus

.. Obedience of Jesus to the Father

.. Example of Jesus given to his disciples

.. Obedience to God’s commands = abiding

.. Abiding = proof of our connectivity with Jesus and the Father

.. ‘Make yourselves at home’ intimately with Christ’s love = keeping Jesus’ commands

 

// Abiding in Jesus means to keep His commands.  Making ourselves at home with Jesus’ love is when we abide in His commands.  He showed us an example by doing this Himself to God the Father.  Did Jesus have the will to do otherwise?  Yes.  However, He chose to make Himself at home in the Father’s love by abiding in the love of Father God by Jesus keeping His commands.

 

.. We can “make ourselves at home” in Christ’s love by abiding in whatever He commands us to do. His commands are NOT burdensome. 

1 John 5:3 “Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.”

.. It also applies to “making ourselves at home” in the love of our family.  We abide in what is “commanded” that’s in line with God’s will and Word and under the authority of Christ.

.. Same with “making ourselves at home” in the love of our church family.  We abide in what is “commanded” to us under the authority of Jesus Christ.

.. As a leader, I myself must show the example that Jesus showed – to abide in the commands of my covering (practically speaking) knowing that they are under the authority of God Himself.  I can trust that “making myself at home” in the love of my family and church family and even work family (as long as they are under Christ’s authority,) is what is best – ultimately for the Glory of God and the example of submission and obedience to the truth of God’s Word/commands.  I can make myself in the love of Christ through keeping the “commands” of my family authority and church family authority.  God has His ways and I can trust that they are ultimately giving glory back to the Father. 

 

// Lord, forgive me for being selfish and for being “rationalistic” with my actions.  I pray that You will help me to make myself at home in the love of whom obeys you just as Jesus has obeyed You.  I pray that You will help me to act in accordance to Your Word.  Thank You for again being so clear.  Help me to have the courage and boldness to make things right with You by making things right with my “neighbors” – my family, my authorities, my brothers and sisters in You.  I thank You for Your living Word.  I pray that You give me the grace to do what You call me to do.  In Jesus’ name, amen.