Jesus in the house

Mark 2:1 "And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house."

Here in this passage we see the phrase, "…it was noised that he was in the house." Capernaum is the town where Jesus resided and ministered out of in His travels. What a great place to live where Jesus the Son of God dwelt. 

Now what's my point today? Can it be said of your community that there are houses where the resurrected Christ dwells? Oh, it would have to be evidenced by those living there, but does He dwell in your house? Is your house a place of welcome to Jesus? When is the last time you said or heard someone say of a family in your community, a house in your neighborhood, that Jesus obviously dwells with that family? Can Jesus be seen in a house/family in your neighborhood? Are there families in your neighborhood who's life displays that Jesus dwells with them? 

In the days that Jesus walked upon the earth, people were drawn to Him for His great love for others and readiness to minister that love in anyway that would bring victory over life and disease and hardship. All you had to do was go to His house in Capernaum, or go to Him wherever He traveled. There you would find God's love, grace and mercy to all who would enter in or come to Him. 

Do we have those homes where Jesus has been invited to dwell and live through those living there? Do we have communities where there are homes who live out the love and grace of Jesus in them, where you can find refuge and loving counsel and help? Can you go to your neighbor, or can they come to your house and find the life of Christ lived through you to their care and love? Can your neighbors come to you and find a haven of safety and prayer? Is your house a haven of God's safety and care? Is Jesus in your house?

There was a day when I was a child that children could run up and down the streets and never fear, and every house on the street was a place of safety if needed. There was a day that the families who had invited Jesus in to live in their hearts and way of life were in abundance. The neighborhood was safe, even in the middle of the night. Neighbors new each other and spoke to each other, and even gathered on their driveways to fellowship. They were always helping to meet each other's needs, digging ditches together, repairing each other's homes together and charged nothing. They loved each other, and sometimes in spite of each other. Jesus was in enough of those homes that it influenced every house on the block and through the countryside. Farmers helped each other get their crops in and harvested. Jesus was at the house of enough of those people that it changed country sides and whole communities.

When people come into your home, do they say or at least be thinking, "Jesus lives there?" Did they see the life of Jesus demonstrated through the hearts and lives of those there? Homes that invite Jesus into their hearts and lives, are homes where you will find safety and love. Your children will be safe there.

The only thing that is going to change America town by town, neighborhood by neighborhood is when homes invite Jesus into their lives and their home becomes a haven of God's safety and love. You can't change the world, but you can change your home, and home by home America will be saved. These families will become those sitting in God's churches, praying and worshipping together, loving each other in spite of differences…one Lord, one faith, one baptism.

Charles Empey is the Pastor of Cove Baptist Church, Orange, TX.