Morning Musings

My Heart, God’s Home…(8) The Laundry…

Leave a comment

        I was a bit reluctant to take my Guest into the laundry room. But He insisted. “I need to see ALL your house, if I’m to stay with you” He said as we went down the passage. “You know I will never leave you nor forsake you, and I want you to willingly show Me each room in your house!”

   He must have sensed my reluctance. As we opened the door it was as bad as I had feared. The damp clothes that I had been meaning to wash last week made a horrid smell as we went in. “ I meant to do the washing but somehow there were other things to do”, I muttered shamefacedly, “Things like going to Bible Study and church services”, hoping to make it sound a bit better. I still hadn’t learned that He knows it all anyway….there was no way I could fool Him!

“Those things are good things, but we are not to leave the other things undone”, He said, “I have given you twenty-four hours each day to make use of. See that you use them wisely. You don’t really need ten hours of sleep you know! Just get up earlier in the morning….I’m always waiting for you to come and see Me, no matter how early it is!”

    He knew me only too well. “Oh Lord!”, I cried, “You know all my weaknesses and failings, there is nothing I can hide from You! Search my heart and show me where I’m at, and lead me to do better!” He knows me through and through, so there is no point in trying to hide things from Him . I didn’t waste any time getting those clothes into the machine after He had gone, and it was such a good feeling to be able to get them clean again!

In the same way, we have in Him redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace . (Ephesians 1:7)

Life Lessons

My Heart, God’s Home….(7)…the Hall Closet

Leave a comment

The Hall Closet….,.

One day I found Him waiting for me at the door, An arresting look was in His eye. As I entered, He said to me, “There’s a peculiar smell in the house. Something must be dead around here. It’s upstairs. I think it is in the hail closet.” As soon as He said this, I knew what He was talking about. There was a small closet up there on the hall landing, just a few feet square. In that closet, behind lock and key, I had one or two little personal things that I didn’t want anyone to know about. Certainly, I did not want Christ to see them. I knew they were dead and rotting things left over from the old life, but I didn’t really want to get rid of them.  What if I ever needed them again? Reluctantly, I went up with Him, and as we mounted the stairs the odor became stronger and stronger.

     He pointed to the door. I was angry. That’s the only way I can put it. I had given Him access to the library, the dining room, the living room, and the bathroom,  and now He was asking me about a little two-by-four closet. I said to myself, “This is too much. I am not going to give Him the key.” “Well,” He said, reading my thoughts, “if you think I’m going to stay up here on the second floor with this smell, you are mistaken. I will go out on the porch.” Then I saw Him start down the stairs. When one comes to know and love Christ, the worst thing that can happen is to sense Him withdrawing His fellowship. I had to give in.

“Yes I’ll give You the key,” I said sadly, ‘but You will have to open the closet and clean it out. I haven’t the strength to do it.” “Just give me the key,” He said. “Authorize me to take care of that closet and I will.” With trembling fingers I passed the key to Him, and He took it, walked over to the door, and opened it. The stench that came out of it nearly took my breath away! But He entered, took out all the putrefying stuff that was rotting there, and threw it away.

Then He cleaned the closet, washed it out and painted it. It was done in a moment’s time. Oh, what victory and relief to have those dead things out of my life! I thought of that verse that says, “If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9)

Morning Musings

My Heart, God’s Home (6)….  The Bathroom

Leave a comment

    “This is the bathroom”, I said proudly as I took My Guest in. Surely there wouldn’t be anything wrong in here! This was the room where there was fresh running water at all times. I never spent much time in this room, as I just did the necessary things like a quick shower.

“Ah, yes,” He said, “The place where all the impurities are washed away!” I began to squirm a little. His eyes seemed to pierce through to the very innermost parts of my being. It was almost as though He knew how little time I really spent there! He walked in to where the shower cubicle was. I glanced down at the base of the shower, and hoped He wouldn’t notice the beginnings of the algae settling in the corners. I hadn’t had time to give it a good scrub for some time.    But alas, His glance followed mine and His piercing eyes took it all in…the grime and the scum that was accumulating through neglect.

“My blood cleanses from ALL sin”, He said meditatively, “You just have to confess it to Me. That is why I died“,  He continued, “To pay the penalty of your sins”.

“Oh Lord”, I cried, “I DO believe it! Help me to keep this room in my heart cleaner by daily confession. I promise to get into all the corners with the brush and get rid of everything that grows into sin!”   

He smiled at me, and said, “My child, this is why I came to earth and died for you. My Father is in the work with Me you know, I and My Father are One”.

I couldn’t help thinking of that verse that says,  “ If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.   (1 John 1:9) What comfort that gave me!

Morning Musings

My Home (5) The Library and Study

Leave a comment

   The next room we went into was the library with the study attached to it. In my home this room of the mind is a very small room with very thick walls. But it is a very important room. In a sense, it is the control room of the house.     I was very proud of this room, and couldn’t wait to show Him around.  He entered with me and looked around at the books in the bookcase, the magazines upon the table, the pictures on the walls. As I followed His gaze I became uncomfortable. Strangely, I had not felt self-conscious about this before, but now that He was there looking at these things I was embarrassed.     Some books were there that His eyes were too pure to behold. On the table were a few magazines that a Christian had no business reading. As for the pictures on the walls – the imaginations and thoughts of the mind – some of these were shameful.

    Red-faced, I turned to Him and said, “Master, I know that this room needs to be cleaned up and made over. Will You help me make it what it ought to be?” “Certainly!” He said. “I’m glad to help you. First of all, take all the things that you are reading and looking at which are not helpful, pure, good and true, and throw them out! Now put on the empty shelves the books of the Bible, and helpful study books. Fill the library with Scripture and meditate on it day and night. As for the pictures on the walls, you will have difficulty controlling these images, but I have something that will help.”     He gave me a full-size portrait of Himself. “Hang this centrally on the wall of your mind” He said, “and you will find it a great help.”

    I did, and I have discovered through the years that when my thoughts are centered upon Christ Himself, His purity and power cause impure thoughts to back away. I found too, that saying the verse out loud, “The blood of Jesus Christ. cleanses me from all sin”, helped greatly too. His cleansing blood does indeed, cause these impure thoughts to disappear. So He has helped me to bring my thoughts under His control. Bad thoughts cannot be in the same room that He is in!!

Morning Musings, Uncategorized

My Heart, God’s Home (4) The Dining Room

Leave a comment

     From there we went into the dining room. the room of appetites and desires. I spent a lot of time and hard work here trying to satisfy my hunger and my wants. I said to Him, “This is a favourite room. I am quite sure You will be pleased with what we serve.’ He seated Himself at the table with me and asked, “What is on the menu for dinner?”  “Well,” I said, “my favourite dishes: money, academic degrees and stocks, with newspaper articles of fame and fortune as side dishes.”  These were the things I liked – secular fare.

When the food was placed before Him, He said nothing, but I observed that He did not eat it. I said to Him, “Master, don’t You care for this food? What is the trouble?” He answered, “I have food to eat that you do not know of. If you want food that really satisfies you, you must do the will of the Father. Stop seeking your own pleasures, desires, and satisfaction. Seek to please Him. That is the food that will satisfy you!”

    It was there at the table, that He gave me a taste of the joy of doing God’s will. What flavour! There is no food like it in all the world. It alone satisfies the hungry soul.

Morning Musings

     My Heart, God’s Home (3)…. The Living Room

Leave a comment

      As  we walked into the living room, we could feel that this room was intimate and comfortable. I liked it. It had a fireplace, overstuffed chairs, a sofa, and a quiet atmosphere. The Lord said to me,  “This is indeed a delightful room. Let us come here often. It is secluded and quiet, and we can fellowship together”      Well, as a young Christian I was thrilled. I couldn’t think of anything I would rather do than have a few minutes with Christ in close companionship. He promised, “I will be here early every morning. Meet me here, and we will start the day together.”      So morning after morning, I would come downstairs to the living room. He would take a book of the Bible from the case, We would open it and read together. He would unfold to me the wonder of God’s saving truths. My heart sang as He shared the love and the grace He had toward me. These were wonderful times.

    However, little by little, under the pressure of many responsibilities, this time began to be shortened. Why, I’m not sure. I thought I was too busy to spend regular time with Christ. This was not intentional, you understand. It just happened that way. Finally, not only was the time shortened, but I began to miss days now and then. Urgent matters would crowd out the quiet times of conversation with Jesus.      I remember one morning rushing downstairs, eager to be on my way. I passed the living room and noticed that the door was open. Looking in, I saw a fire in the fireplace and Jesus was sifting there. Suddenly in dismay I thought to myself, “He is my guest. I invited Him into my heart! He has come as my Saviour and Friend, and yet I am neglecting Him.” I stopped, turned and hesitantly went in, With downcast glance, I said, “Master, forgive me. Have You been here all these mornings?” “Yes,” He said, “I told you I would be here every morning to meet with you. Remember, I love you. I have redeemed you at great cost, I value your fellowship. Even if you cannot keep the quiet time for your own sake, do it for mine,”

     The truth that Christ desires my companionship, that He wants me to be with Him and waits for me, has done more to transform my quiet time with God than any other single fact. Don’t let Christ wait alone in the living room of your heart, but every day find time when, with your Bible and in prayer, you may be together with Him. May it be so.

Morning Musings

My Heart, God’s Home…Whose House?

Leave a comment

     When I said to the Lord,  “Lord, I want this heart of mine, this house of mine,  to be Yours. I  want to have You settle down here and be perfectly at home. Everything I  have belongs to You”.      I was never more sure of anything else in my young life and I have never doubted that He came in  then,  to stay. I have never regretted that decision and I never will.

As it happened, it proved to be many years before I was willing to let Him be truly Master and Lord of everything in my house! But at the beginning I couldn’t wait to show Him around!  After a while, a thought came to me, and I asked Him, “Lord, is there any chance that You would take over the management of the whole house and operate it for me as it should be done?  Would You take the responsibility to keep my life what it ought to be?”

His face lit up as He replied, “I’d love to! That is what I want to do. You cannot be a victorious Christian in your own strength. Let me do it through you and for you. That is the way. But,” He added slowly, “I am just a guest. I have no authority to proceed, since the property is not mine.”     I dropped to my knees, and said, “Lord, I see You have only been a guest and I have been the host. From now on I am going to be the servant. You are going to be the owner and Master.”

    Running as fast as I could to the strongbox, I took out the title deed to the house describing its assets and liabilities, location and situation. I eagerly signed the house over to Him alone for time and eternity.  “Here,” I said. “Here it is, all that I am and have, forever. Now You run the house. I’ll just remain with You as a servant and friend.”

    I didn’t realise how different things would be once Jesus Christ became the owner and made His home in my heart!

Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Random Devotional Thoughts

Fellowship with Jesus Christ.

Leave a comment

Following on from last week’s blog about fellowship, it pays to stop and think about who we fellowship with. Exactly what does it mean to have fellowship?

     Fellowship is being with others with a common interest….the Bible talks about having fellowship with others who believe in God. Not only that, but with those who have an active interest in sharing that belief with others.      To start with, we are called into the fellowship of God’s Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:9). This invitation is for ALL people, but many don’t want to hear about it, so they turn their back on it. What a mistake that is! They do not know what they are missing out on.

    Then there are others who think they can manage without meeting with others of like mind….another grave mistake! God knew what He was doing when He planted this need into the human psyche, the need for fellowship with others.    Most of all, He wants to have fellowship with the people He has made. Let’s look at this parable of sharing time with our Creator….

    One evening I invited Jesus Christ into my heart…what an entrance He made! It was not a spectacular, emotional thing, but very real. Something happened at the very centre of my life. He came into the darkness of my heart and turned on the light; He built a fire on the hearth and banished the chill. He started music where there had been stillness, and He filled the emptiness with His own loving, wonderful fellowship. I have never regretted opening the door to Christ and I never will.      In the joy of this new relationship I said to Jesus Christ, “Lord, I want this heart of mine to be Yours. I  want to have You settle down here and be perfectly at home. Everything I  have belongs to You”.     I meant every word that I said, and I couldn’t wait to show Him around!

“If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”  (John 14:23, NIV)

See what God has to say to YOU.