Jesus Along the Way: Words of Hope and Grace. By Pastor Tom Joyce
August 10, 2020
“One thing I asked of the Lord, that I will seek after; to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4
Have you ever wondered what God’s house looks like? Whether it is brick, wood or adobe, I would love to be there, all the time. During the journey through this pandemic many of us have been in our houses more than we ever have before, and sometimes we dream how we would make improvements there if just we had the resources to make the necessary changes. Where we live is connected to place in time, but God’s house is endless, no improvements necessary. To live in the “house of the Lord all the days of my life” is to view God’s house along the way as creation itself with the affirmation of the eternal presence of God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ residing within, taking in the majesty with us along the way in this life and the life to come. When Jesus is in the house there is joy, there is peace, hope, and grace. You will know when you are there when you feel the Holy Spirit consume you with the love of God. Because God loves you so much and sent Jesus to be by your side, even the most difficult days are made easier just by knowing you are not alone; God’s house may be big, but so is God’s love for you. God’s House can be celebrated by all people when the absolute need for our Savior is confessed, when we acknowledge that we need something more than just living life; we need live lived in the abundance of God’s hope and grace. Every day we pray the Lord’s prayer and include this petition; “Thy kingdom come.” In praying these words, we are praying for the “house of the Lord” to be a reality in our lives, to “behold its beauty,” and to forever be able to offer our praise to our Creator and redeemer. Rest assured that the door of the Lord’s House is open for you; all you need to do is enter and celebrate new life even and especially in this life.
Rev. Tom Joyce, pastor
Fields United Methodist Church