Pause

When there are so many challenges made, so many insistent declarations that call into question what you see, what you hear, what you think, and yes, what you know, it is hard to be certain sometimes about anything.

While doubt is not unwelcome for the honest believer who is trying to understand, it is good to hear something that reminds the faithful follower about why their journey of faith was begun in the first place.

Listen now for echoes of truth, so that you may believe still.

Listen

Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me."

John 14:23-24

Think

What makes a home? I don’t mean just a house or a residence, but a real home. My wife and I are preparing to move, and we want our house to be comfortable for its next residents; so we’ve been putting in lots of preparation, fixing doors and touching up paint. While I hope these late nights will make a welcoming house, I know they cannot make a home. A home takes love.

Jesus makes the incredible promise that he and the Father will come and make their home with those who love and obey him. Just imagine – God moving in!

As any married couple will admit, living together with another person means changing. Habits that once seemed fine suddenly don’t work anymore, and adjustments take place. These changes aren’t always easy, but couples embrace them out of love. That’s what Jesus means when he says that those who love him will keep his word. When God moves in, we change our way of living to build a home of love.

Joshua Hays

Pray

Loving God, you’re invited! Come and take up residence in my life. Rearrange the clutter, dust out the cobwebs where change is needed, but most of all, simply be with me. Amen.

Go

It is in the knowing
And in the unknowing
That the faithful find their way through.

It is in trust despite distrust,
Harmony despite discord,
And belief despite deceit
That Love finds its ultimate victory,

Unwilling and finally unable
To let go the beloved.