This World IS My Home

Written by Marilyn Ehle

Are your days filled with loneliness? Do you dread getting up and facing another day?

“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ‘Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.’” (Jeremiah 29:4-6)

Perhaps you are familiar with these lyrics written by Jim Reeves:

This world is not my home I’m just a passing through,
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.
Oh Lord you know I have no friend like you.
If heaven’s not my home, then Lord, what will I do?
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

It’s a comforting song to sing, especially when the cares of everyday life threaten to submerge us into the blackness of the sea. The prospect of heaven, of living eternally with the Friend like no other, is like light at the end of a tunnel.

If any group had reason to long for heaven’s joy, it was the Jewish people enduring the trials of exile. In the poetry of the psalms we read that, “By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion”.

But God had a message and a purpose for His children. They were not to sit in idle grief, removing themselves from their neighbors, uninvolved in the country in which they found themselves. They were not to live in movable tents, ready to escape at any moment, but instead to “build houses and settle down.” The building of houses, the planting of gardens and the eating of their produce indicates a long term view. Not only were they to avoid living in a “holy huddle,” but they were specifically asked to “work for the country’s welfare” (The Message).

The people of God, living in rich fellowship with their Heavenly Father and in loving community with each other, will have influence and impact on their surroundings. At least for now, this world IS my home.

Father, Remind me that while Heaven is the promise of tomorrow, You have placed me here in this place for a reason. Help me to see the ways I can bring Your love to the people right in front of me today. Amen

Question: How do you build relationships in your community, outside of your church?

Tags: Bible, Devotional, God, home, Jeremiah 29:4-6, Marilyn Ehle, Women

2 Responses to “This World IS My Home”

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Alfred says:

July 16, 2012 at 11:34 pm

We are in God’s program of sanctification, to become more like Jesus. He ate with the common folk, attracting them to Himself. Now that Jesus has returned to heaven, we are to pick up where He left off; and we do that by being His hands, His feet, His mouth, etc., ministering to the needs of a sick and hungry world. We may love our neighbors, but do we realize that they are spiritually hungry for what only God can give them?
You have picked it up all-right, Hedy! By being a friend, those people whom you invite are seeing Jesus in you! I see this work being done in two ways: 1st consciously choosing to pray for and to help someone, giving to a worthy cause and living as the Bible teaches. And 2nd , by following the leading of the Spirit that at a moments notice. This is where I’ve failed often. God showed my that if I turn a good idea over in my mind a few times then it becomes “my idea”, but is should not be mine, for I am His mouth and His helping hands. Therefore that good idea needs to remain His and He alone needs to get the credit for it! Receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit empowers us to truly be His disciples, but comes with responsibilities. We need to be “Spirit-led.”
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for placing us in a needy world, to be Your ambassadors, Your mentors, and Your servants to those who need help. Forgive us for not being Spiritually in tune to respond when we are called upon to meet a need on short notice. Thank You also for the thrill You give us for being Christ to someone. It is Your work, and we are blessed to be co-laborers with You. Thank You again for helping us to be the salt, light, and example that draws people to You. We praise You, our Lord, for helping us to bloom where we’re planted. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Hedy says:

July 13, 2012 at 7:44 am

Thank you for this devotion today,Marilyn.I find that I`m in a fast pace growing faith walk to the point where I have been surrounding myself with only Christians lately.I`ve never felt needed,excepted or worthy of these kinds of friends before so I pretty much stuck with non-believers.
Boy,did I get that mixed up! God showed me how I was putting Christians on a pedestal which was not fair to them & it left me with a feeling that I could never reach that hight. With this change in me,I`m really enjoying the fellowship with them*Christians*,but I`m afraid of missed opportunities with those who don`t know Jesus*yet*
This devotion has shown me what God is working on in my life right now & that is to find balance.Yes,it`s true that this is not my forever home but it`s where I am know & God created it so how could I not love it & those who don`t know Him yet.
So how do I build relationships outside the church?…I invite them to functions at my church…womens chrismas dinner,spring dinner.etc..they always have amazing speakers!..BBQs & or coffee at my place…wow! I just re-read this!..a little over-whelming!…MMmmm! I`ll really need Gods help on this one!…I can do all things through Christ…! Amen and again I say Amen!