He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) (1 Timothy 3:4-5 NIV)
Sometimes it is easy to walk together with God together with the Church. After all, it is a greenhouse that makes it easy to grow. We get "filled up" with the Word. We sing songs in the Spirit. We fellowship with like-mined believers. We walk in carrying our burdens and walk out a little lighter and feeling good. It's easy to walk together with God in a healthy Church environment.
When we go home, though, we let down. We don't feel like we need to put on the smile-face and greet people all around us. We don't worry about what people would think if they really knew us. When we go home, we relax. We go to our favorite chair. We watch our favorite show. We eat our favorite meal. We also may "let down" our guard against temptations, enemy attacks, or accountability from other believers. Home becomes a place where we can let down in our walk together with God.
Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. (Titus 1:8 NIV)
When we go home, we need to be consistent in our walk together with God. When someone encounters us in our home, they should encounter the same person they encounter at a church service. We should be the same. Not only that, our home becomes our responsibility to create a safe environment for growth. Leaders in the Church work to create a "greenhouse" for us in the Church. In our home, we are responsible for creating that safe environment for growth.
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed--or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42 NIV)
When we go home, we need to be consistent in our walk together with God. When someone encounters us in our home, they should encounter the same person they encounter at a church service. We should be the same. Not only that, our home becomes our responsibility to create a safe environment for growth. Leaders in the Church work to create a "greenhouse" for us in the Church. In our home, we are responsible for creating that safe environment for growth.
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed--or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42 NIV)
Hospitality isn't necessarily about how clean our house is or even the type of food we prepare for our guests. Many people throughout the ages have been hospitable in settings that are wildly different. Whether in palace, a "normal" home, or a grass hut in the jungles, hospitality always does the same thing: brings people to the feet of Jesus. A home with hospitality is a home that reflects the image of God.
How about you? Have you experienced a safe environment for growth with a Church? Have you experienced the "let down" when going home? Have you experienced a home that helps you relax at the feet of Jesus? Does your home?
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