Making a "Home" for Jesus

1 KINGS 8:1-7, 9-13

The elders of Israel and all the leaders of the tribes,
the princes in the ancestral houses of the children of Israel,
came to King Solomon in Jerusalem,
to bring up the ark of the LORD's covenant
from the City of David, which is Zion.
All the people of Israel assembled before King Solomon
during the festival in the month of Ethanim (the seventh month).
When all the elders of Israel had arrived,
the priests took up the ark;
they carried the ark of the LORD
and the meeting tent with all the sacred vessels
that were in the tent.
(The priests and Levites carried them.)

King Solomon and the entire community of Israel
present for the occasion
sacrificed before the ark sheep and oxen
too many to number or count.
The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD
to its place beneath the wings of the cherubim in the sanctuary,
the holy of holies of the temple.
The cherubim had their wings spread out over the place of the ark,
sheltering the ark and its poles from above.
There was nothing in the ark but the two stone tablets
which Moses had put there at Horeb,
when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel
at their departure from the land of Egypt.

When the priests left the holy place,
the cloud filled the temple of the LORD
so that the priests could no longer minister because of the cloud,
since the LORD's glory had filled the temple of the LORD.
Then Solomon said, "The LORD intends to dwell in the dark cloud;
I have truly built you a princely house,
a dwelling where you may abide forever."

I can read theses lines and think, "Well isn't this just a nice little piece of history. Solomon loved God and wanted to be near him. Isn't that just quaint." I read these lines though and then I pondered, "What does this say about me and my life today?" Solomon built a temple, a mighty and beautiful temple. He gave God a physical real home in Israel where everyone could go and worship. So what does that mean to me? Do I make a place where I can worship the Lord? Yeah, I mean I have my local church, but in recent years I have been working on finding a place where I can have a special place for God in my own home. It's not what I want yet, and I will ashamedly admit that my focus for this goal drifts and fades and then resurfaces with the distractions of everyday life. Maybe you're wondering why someone would do this, or if it is even important. My answer to you possible ponder is yes, it is important and you should do so because someone told me to do so. I know funny right? Just by taking a place at my desk and making it home to my cross and prayer cards is a major boost for me. It gives me a "home" to go and meet Jesus. It is a physical reminder that I belong to God and that I should make time for him, because his council makes me happy. It reminds me that I consider myself a Christian and makes me reflect daily on how successful I am. I could go on, but to you I would recommend making a place in your home where you can connect with God. The next important part is to use it. Just like the Israelis experienced it is wonderful to make a home for God but to visit and then listen to God is also important for life success and happiness.

Jesus,

I want you to have a home in my heart. I don't always make it available to you and I am sorry. There really is no excuse. Help me to hear you each day. Help me to make a great home for you in my house for my wife, children and myself to enjoy. I know that if I keep you at the center of our lives everything will work out for the best. Thank you so much Jesus, I love you.