Make Yourself At Home
There is a big difference between visiting someone for the very first time to going to the home of a long-time friend.
Reference: v.7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. (NIV Bible)
Explore: It’s always interesting going to someone’s house for the very first time. You ring the door bell and wait for someone to invite you in, you offer to take your shoes off at the door, you use your best manners and you are often seated in the nice lounge room with the good china. Even though your new friend might say, “Make yourself at home”, you still stay on your best behaviour. On the other hand, when you go to a long-time friend’s house it is a totally different situation. You’ll enter via the back door, just walk straight in after knocking on the door, help yourself to a cup of tea and sit around in the family room. While it’s great to make new friends it’s always nice to be totally comfortable in someone else’s home.
Application: This comparison is almost like the differences between worshipping God before Jesus came to earth and then afterwards. Before Jesus walked amongst us worship was structured, symbolic and ritualistic. Now however we are encouraged to worship God anytime, anywhere. We don’t need a specific building or certain elements; we could be worshipping God in our laundry, in our office or even on the train! Our relationship with God can have aspects in it like going to the home of a long-time friend. We don’t have to hold to any rituals we can just make ourselves at home and be open and honest with our Creator. How fortunate we are to have a God that loves us so much that we can come to Him at any time, in any way and He will welcome us in.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for opening your arms to us like an old friend opens their home. May we not take advantage of Your hospitality but desire to connect with You openly and regularly. Amen.
When was the last time you had an open and honest chat with God?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.