August 5, 2025 -- John 1:14 & 15:7-11 -- Home and Jesus

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as the of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 ESV
 
 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 15:7-11 ESV
 
“The Word of God—this creative, calling, engendering, blessing and powerful Word—takes on flesh. This is a Word of love, and love must be embodied: it must take place somewhere and in some time.
“And not only does this Word take on flesh, it tabernacles, or tents, among us. It moves into the neighborhood and makes a home with us. So when Jesus later invites his disciples to ‘abide’ in him and in his love, he is inviting them to a reciprocity of relationship (John 15:7-11). He is, in effect, saying: ‘I have come to abide with you; I have come to make my home with you. Let’s do that together. Come and make your home with me.’ Love of this kind permeates the Gospels because it characterizes the God to whom Jesus bears witness and the Jesus in whom God is personally present.”
“The Indwelling God and the Sojourning Community” Beyond Homelessness, page 277^.
 
We live in a world that is constantly on the move. Mobile. Changing jobs. Changing cities. Changing homes. What is the one thread of consistency in our lives? For the Christian it is the among-us-living Jesus. He is making His home among us and we build our lives on Him. Wherever we are, whenever we meet with other Christians we have a home-coming. There we can sigh and know we are with family—those who like us, have been adopted by God, brought in from the world of sin and darkness and given the righteousness of Jesus Christ in Him with others walk in the light of life. What a glorious relief that is. What a haven of safety.
 
^Steven Bouma-Prediger and Brian Walsh. Beyond Homelessness Christian Faith in a Culture of Displacement. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2008, page 277
 
O LORD our God, our hearts are restless until they find true rest in You. Thank You for the glorious gift of Jesus, Who makes His home among us. Thank You for the glorious gift of the Christian community, among whom we discern Jesus’ presence. Thank You for the glorious gift of home with Jesus, which begins now and stretches into eternity, in the New Heaven and New Earth. Spirit of the Living God, seal in us the blessed work of Jesus so that our lives and our residences become Jesus-filled-homes for fellow, weary travelers. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/8wfhhFHMgxY?si=MoFakCi7FzZbihRw Jesus is Mine

 

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