Home Is Where the Heart Is

Dianne E. Balch, Guest Writer

Today’s Treasure

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. AND THAT IS WHAT SOME OF YOU WERE. BUT you were washed, you were sanctified, IN the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by the Spirit of our God.

I Corinthians 6:9-11 (emphasis mine in all Scriptures quoted)

Some of you are living in the same house you were reared in, or in the same house you settled into once you were married. Your roots have gone deep and the connections and memories are endless! There’s a side of me that thought I wanted that (our second home became an idol and I used to swear I wanted to be buried under the cement basement floor), but God had other plans. I lived in eight places before marriage and as a couple we had lived in 20 homes in eight states! So, I latched on to the old cliché “home is where the heart is”. There can be a lot of truth packed into a small cliché. I loved decorating each home and “nesting” to create my own little Eden, an environment that felt safe and comfortable no matter where we lived. I hope you have experienced a home like this.

Once my husband and I found ourselves IN Christ, our view of HOME expanded. With USA passports, we enjoyed international travel, and saw ourselves as dual citizens, just passing through - Heaven bound. We’re promised that our citizenship is in Heaven and this hope has helped me cultivate eternal perspective along the way, especially when my husband preceded me to our final, eternal destination. So, I’m not home yet, but the houses that God provides along the way are very important. It’s IN these homes that God does his loving, gracious, character building, sanctifying work to prepare us for our God’s Heavenly Home.

A small pamphlet called “My Heart Christ’s Home” creatively describes His INdwelling presence and desire for an intimate relationship with me. Christ IN me the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27b). I was keenly aware that He had entered a real mess (And that is what some of you were. Yes, that was me.). He entered the cluttered and chaotic chamber of my heart, to take up residence as my Lord. It had been a “come as you are party” when I came to Jesus (not by my works, lest I boast), but He made it clear that He wanted to clean up and transform my heart into a palace fit for a King. As I grew in my faith, I appreciated more deeply the cost of His sacrifice on the cross to pay the penalty for my sin, so I could be forgiven, cleansed and spend eternity with Him. As these truths dropped from my head into my heart, I began to truly worship:

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is IN you, who you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

I Corinthians 6:19-20

I always circle the word IN when it refers to the INdwelling of Christ or INdwelling of the Holy Spirit. This is miraculous, a mystery, and supernatural. Go to the following chapters and circle the word IN: Colossians 3, Ephesians 1, Romans 8. Meditate on all that is promised when you see that word - IN. It puts your present life circumstances in perspective with God’s eternal truth. He is IN this. He is IN you. He is all IN! Am I? Are you?

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives IN me.

The life I now live in the body, I live by faith IN the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT

I don’t ever want to lose sight of being in awe of these Promises. They get us in touch with our true identity: redeemed, if we know Christ personally; part of the body of Christ, with Him as the Head; adopted into the Father’s family; His children. We all drift from meditating on these truths, but He wants us to return until our hearts want to sing and burst over His love, forgiveness, grace and mercy. We should pray often that we will never get over this! What could motivate us more? Our hearts have become the home, the dwelling place of God! The Spirit IN us is the mediator for fostering intimacy with the triune God.

PRAYER

Search me, Oh God, and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way IN me, and lead me IN the way everlasting.

Psalm 139: 23-24

Father, if You convict me of a sin that needs cleansing and forgiveness, I will confess it. Thank You, Christ, for being willing to live IN me and thank You that the same power that raised You from the dead is IN me, by the INdwelling Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:11). Thank You for beginning a good work IN me that You promise to continue until I’m finally home (Philippians 1:6) Keep deepening my understanding of Your Lordship IN my life. I want to let the peace of Christ rule (reign, umpire and call the shots) IN my heart as I choose to be thankful in all things (Colossians 3:15). I cast all my cares upon You, because You care (I Peter 5:7). I pray Thy will be done, with no reservations, because You know best (Matthew 6:10). Forgive me for the times I fail to trust IN these precious Promises! It is IN Jesus strong name that I pray. Amen.

Sharon W. Betters is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, pastor’s wife, and cofounder of MARKINC Ministries, where she is the Director of Resource Development. Sharon is the author of several books, including Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness, and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace. She is the co-host of the Help & Hope podcast and writes Daily Treasure, an online devotional.

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Contact Sharon with comments or questions at d ailytreasure@markinc.org.

WWS and H&H 2024Dianne BalchFebruary 6, 2024Feb2024Comment