2 Timothy 2: 20-21
“Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”
My favorite place to be has always been our home. No matter where my husband and I have lived—and we have moved at least twenty times during our 57 years of marriage—home is where I love to be. Our current home sits on a quiet cul-de-sac, in the Shenandoah Valley, and offers us enough space to welcome family, neighbors, and friends for gatherings. For us it’s a sanctuary from the darkness of the outside world, offering us a place of rest, refreshment, nourishment, comfort and also a place to serve others through hospitality.
Today’s verses from 2 Timothy speak to our spiritual home, but my husband and I were able to apply them to what we faced fourteen years ago when we purchased our current house. It was a torturous period of waiting before we were finally able to close the deal. We faced several obstacles along the way: it was a “short” sale which by no stretch meant “quick”; there was a nationwide mortgage crisis which caused delay after delay; the owner was a very uncooperative seller. Finally, after nine long months, we signed the final papers, indicating that we were the new owners. But, there was Someone else would hold the title.
When we opened the door to our new home and stepped through, the first thing we did was to cleanse it of all that was dishonorable. You see, the house had been owned by a Wiccan, another term for a witch. Without delay, we set about to dedicate it anew, cleansed and set apart, holy, useful to the Master of the house, for His glory. My husband and I, along with our realtor and her daughter, made our way around the house, anointing it with oil, and praying over every single corner of our new home. By doing so, we officially transferred the title from the previous owner to the rightful owner, Jesus, and to establish its purpose, set apart for use by God. At that point, the house was “ready for every good work.”
Our experience of moving into our new home is akin to what happens when Jesus takes up residence in our hearts. Just as we committed to ridding our hearts of all that was dishonorable, we prayed to rid our new home of all that dishonored Him, so that we, and our home, would be a vessel for honorable use, useful to Jesus. Tomorrow we will look at how to do that in practical terms.
Heavenly Father, we thank You and praise You for making a home in our hearts. What a comfort it is to know that You choose to be there and never threaten to move out because of our behavior. Please reveal to us if there is anything dishonorable or unholy within. May our hearts always be useful to you, the Master, for every good work. For Jesus’ sake we pray. Amen.
– painting via Illustration Magazine on Instagram
You have a beautiful and comfortable home.. I never knew the story behind it. The Holy Spirit’s peace and presence is definitely felt there.
Thank you, Jennifer. Indeed, God has blessed us with His peace and presence as we seek to serve Him with the gift of our home. ~ Marsha