April 25 - John 15: Make Yourself at Home

I've completed some online surveys recently where I have to select my employment status from a list.  Full-time employee?  Yes, I work full-time but I'm not employeed by anyone.  Self-employed?  Yes, I do create my own tasks lists and manage my own schedule, but I don't have an income.  Part-time employee?  Well, part-time volunteer, chauffeur, cook, cheerleader, maid, blog-writer, etc.  Student?  Yes, I do love to study and learn, but I no longer have a student ID.  Unemployed?  Not really.  I've chosen  my field of occupation, I just don't get paid for it!  Homemaker.  Ah yes, that's the category I most clostly fit into.   And most days, I'm incredibly grateful to be able to make my family, extended family, friends, neighbors, and anyone else who drops by feel at home.

Since "homemaking" has been my primary profession for 15 years now, I've become fairly efficient and proficient at what I do and even enjoy most of it.  As with anyone's profession, homemaking has become part of my identity and my home is an extension of myself.  What naturally follows placing my identity in my home, is wanting the fruits of my labor to be noticed and appreciated.  I like for people to compliment my decor, my cooking, and the ease of being in our home.  It feeds my desire for approval. 

When I ask others to make themselves at home, I do want them to feel relaxed and loved, but I'm also secretly hoping for some validation of my identity. This is not Biblical love, this is consumeristic love. I will give you something (a welcome into my home) if you will give me something back (approval and compliments). This is not what Jesus is inviting us to in His love. He's inviting us to complete approval, to share everything that He has, to unselfconscious intimacy.  Thus, Jesus' words here are particularly meaningful and convicting to me,

Make yourselves at home in my love.  If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love.  That's what I've done - kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love.  (John 15:9-10)

"But when the Bible speaks of love, it measures it primarily not by how much you want to receive but by how much you are willing to give of yourself to someone.  How much are you willing to lose for the sake of this person?  How much of your freedom are you willing to forsake?  How much of your precious time, emotion, and resources are you willing to invest in this person?"  (Tim Keller, The Meaning of Marriage)

This is what Jesus is inviting us into:  make yourself at home in Me not because you give me something I need, not because I'm hoping to gain something from you, but because I lost all for your sake, I gave everything for you.  Now, go and do likewise.

I've told you these things for a purpose:  that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature.  This is my command:  Love one another the way I loved you.  this is the very best way to love.  Put your life on the line for your friends.   (John 15:11-14)