When my husband and I first married, he had to get used to an extended family— not because he married into mine, but because my side of the family had multiples. My parents were divorced and remarried, so not only did our kids get extra gifts at birthdays and holidays, but we also had extra family get-togethers versus his family had just one.
I remember one day stopping by my dad’s house and as I started to open the front door with a “yoo-hoo, anyone home?” my husband stopped me and said, “Shouldn’t you knock first?” I paused and looked at him funny because I’d never seen him do that at his parent’s house. From a courtesy point of view, he wasn’t wrong. But I later understood that he saw it differently because he had actually grown up in the house his parents still lived in, whereas my parents had moved frequently.
This point of view made me think about how we spend time with God.
For some, it’s easy to open the Bible and start reading right away. For others, who weren’t raised with that kind of relationship, it can feel more like you have to knock and see if it’s okay to sit down with God for awhile. Thankfully, the relationship isn’t based on where or how you grew up but on the adoption into God’s family.
Jesus said, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7). The word abide in this verse means to remain, to dwell, to comply with. It’s a picture of being more permanently fixed versus being an occasional visitor.
Abide in His Word.
Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:1,14), so spending time in His Word is equal to spending time with Him. And the more we abide with Him, the less we’ll feel like an outsider (or visitor). I think time in God’s presence (through worship and prayer) is important and good but I’ve also come to realize that if I’m not familiar with His Word, then it’s possible to fall into deception. The enemy has forever tried to counterfeit the presence of God— even going to great lengths to disguise himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthian 11:14).
What I’ve also noticed is that the more time I spend (abide) reading my Bible, the more my heart wants to worship and thank God for all He has done.
My point is that you and I can make His Word and His presence our home. The Message Translation says, “Make yourselves at home with me and my words [will be] at home in you.” I love that. I’ve personally experienced it too. I didn’t knock on God’s door until I was 21 years old. Much like visiting a home I didn’t grow up in, I found that it wasn’t the house that mattered— it was who lived there! My parents always welcome me into their home with open arms! And so does God. So I encourage you to make the time, walk on in, and sit awhile with the One who loves you.
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” —Jesus
