After they had set a day to meet with Paul, they came to him at his lodgings (in Rome) in great numbers. From morning until evening he explained the matter to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets. ... He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
Acts 28:23, 30-31
How many of us think of our house as our sanctuary and safe place? A quiet place to get away from the world and settle in for relaxing. A place where we can express our personal style and be ourselves.
I came across this reading from the end of the Book of Acts today, and it tells of the time just before St. Paul is executed by the Romans for his work promoting Jesus and the Christian faith. What jumped out at me was how Paul was boldly sharing his faith story with people who came to his house. To his house. His private sanctuary and dwelling place.
It made me think. How many of us think about how we live our faith at home? Do the people who come to our home see Jesus through us? Do we share our faith with our loved ones and friends? Or do we feel like we can "turn it off" when we are at home? Like we don't have to "do the work of faith" once we get inside our home?
Paul took every opportunity to share information about Jesus with anyone, anywhere, anytime. He was willing to use different cultural information, like sports or theater metaphors, to connect with people in different places and different cultures. He used different language and different music. His goal was for people to see Jesus, know Jesus, and come to love and serve Jesus. He even used his home as a place to help people get to know Jesus.
Years ago, I read a Bible study story about two older guys who met during fellowship time at church. The one guy complained that he hadn't see the other guy for quite a while. The second guy hung his head down and said that he had switched worship services and was going to the contemporary service. The first guy laughed, and pointed out that the second guy hated that kind of music. "What is wrong with you?", the first guy wondered. The second guy said, "yeah, I don't like it, but my granddaughter does."
The second guy was willing to go to a worship service that wasn't his personal preference so that his granddaughter would come and hear about Jesus and learn to love Jesus.
What does your home tell people about your relationship with Jesus? Is your preference to activate your Jesus connection once or twice a week while you are at church, or when you are volunteering somewhere? Or is Jesus someone who is with you at home with daily prayer and Bible reading?
Our faith life and relationship with Jesus isn't meant to be a coat we put on when we leave the house, and take off when we get back. Jesus wants to be with us through every moment of our life. Our daily tasks of laundry and cooking and lawn mowing. Our closest relationships. Our darkest nights and quietest moments. Jesus wants to be in our homes, where the people who visit us get to glimpse Jesus as well.
Maybe we need to invite Jesus into our homes, and let our lives tell others about Jesus every day, in every place. Maybe a bold faith lived in our homes will touch people who will never see us in church or at work. Our welcome to people in our homes may be the moment they get to see Jesus. Amen.
Pastor Anna-Lisa Hunter
May 1, 2024
