What do you call home? Do you live in an apartment, a house, a nursing home? We all live somewhere, but some of us might be wondering: How can my house become a place of ministry to others, a place of spiritual blessing and transformation? If you desire your house to be more than just the place you eat, sleep, and relax in, take a journey with me through the pages of Scripture. Let’s ask the Lord to make our dwellings nurseries of new life and farms of lasting fruitfulness for Him.
It all began when Jesus entered Peter and Andrew’s home (Mk. 1:29). Peter’s mother-in-law “was lying sick with a fever” (v. 30). In fact, Luke explains it was a high fever (Lk. 4:38). Her situation was serious, but then sin, of which the fever is a picture, is very serious and eternally life-threatening! This was our condition before salvation. I’m very thankful for the two things that happen next. First, the disciples “spoke to Jesus about her” (Mk. 1:30). Do you speak to the Lord about others in need of salvation and Christian encouragement? Prayer for others is vital. Second, the Lord “touched her hand, and the fever left her” (Mt. 8:15). Only a touch from the Master can save us from our sins. Struggling Christians also need His touch of encouragement. Aren’t you thankful for both in your life? Her response to His demonstration of forgiveness and love was immediate: “She got up and waited on Him” (Mt. 8:15). But to understand what happened between her salvation and her serving the Lord in her home, we need to consider some other passages of Scripture.
Consecrating yourself
The next step after salvation is consecration of yourself to the Lord. “Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things [wrangling about words, and worldly, empty chatter, vv. 14-16], he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Tim. 2:20-21).
Is that your heart’s desire? Do you want above all else to be useful to the Master? Then give yourself completely to the Lord, to be used by Him. Make David’s words your own: “I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart. I will set no worthless thing before my eyes” (Ps. 101:2-3). Make a commitment to set your eyes on things above, especially at home. Give every part of yourself to be used for Him.
Honoring the Lord Jesus in all your ways leads to desiring the consecration of the members of your household as well: “He who practices deceit shall not dwell within my house” (Ps. 101:7). You begin to raise the standards in your home for your children, your spouse, and other adults sharing the home. You desire that they too be vessels for honor for Him, since “any…house divided against itself will not stand” (Mt. 12:25). The more each member of the household is committed to obeying the Lord at all costs, the more beautiful is the harmony among them and the more powerful is the demonstration of the Spirit’s fruit and filling:
“How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,Who walks in His ways. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine Within your house, Your children like olive plants Around your table” (Ps. 128:1-3).
Is this the cry of your heart for your household?
Consecrating your house
Once you and your household are wholly committed to serving the One who bought you, your next desire is to truly use your house for His praise and the rich blessing of others. Just as the Israelites could voluntarily give their houses to God for the use of His priests (Num. 18:14), so you can consecrate your “house as holy to the Lord” (Lev. 27:14). Don’t do it rashly, nor under compulsion, but only out of deep gratitude for what He has done for you. Willingly offer up your dwelling place for His eternal purposes, and the glory of the Lord will surely fill your house (Ezek. 43:5)! It was His presence in the house that brought many needy people to the door (Mk. 1:33-34). Do you long for people to find their Savior in your home? Give your house to Him! Do you yearn to be an encouragement to God’s people? It will be His presence in your home that ministers to both saint and sinner—the fatherless, the widowed, the lonely, and the imprisoned (Ps. 68:5-6), all in need of the Master’s touch. If that is your desire, carefully, gratefully give Him control of your house and possessions. Then speak about Him to all who enter your door.
Consecrating your speech
What will your visitors hear you say? Certainly the story of His healing touch. This is undoubtedly what brought so many people to Peter’s mother-in-law’s door. You will also likely take up the words that wisdom cried from her house: “Forsake folly and live, And proceed in the way of understanding” (Prov. 9:6). You will gently urge your guests to turn from the folly of the world and seek the wisdom only God gives that leads to a righteous, faithful, fruitful life for Him. And you will point them to the Lord Jesus, the wisdom of God: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (v. 10). Your guests will begin to see the wisdom and power of Christ displayed in your life and home, and take note that:
“By wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; And by knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches” (Prov. 24:3-4).
Is it your desire that the fragrance of Christ pervade your home? Let your guests notice not the furniture (or lack thereof) in your rooms, but the knowledge of the glory of the Lord and the precious riches of His grace available to saved and lost alike. May they take hold of Him as you have taken hold of Him. May they depend daily upon Him, for “the house of the righteous will stand” (Prov. 12:7).
We began with the salvation of Peter’s mother-in-law, prayed for by others, and touched by the Lord. She consecrated herself to the Lord, then her family and her house as well. Her testimony attracted others to Him, the fragrant and fruitful true vine. Her life was evidence of His life flowing through her. Her simple acts of hospitality and kindness were opportunities for the Lord to touch others. Similarly, we see in Acts 2:46-47 that as the early Christians joyfully shared meals together in homes, their obvious unity and love for one another led to the salvation of many others. We see in Lydia’s case someone newly saved and already desiring to offer hospitality to those who brought her the message of salvation (Acts 16:15). Some others dedicated themselves to serving whole churches as the assemblies met regularly in their homes (Rom. 16:5; Col. 4:15; Phm. 1:2).
Could this happen in your home when you, your household, and your speech are consecrated to Him? Could you be like Philip, ministering to the needs of believers (Acts 21:8)? Perhaps the Lord wants to use your sanctified hospitality to encourage, edify, and equip some of God’s people who are hurting or discouraged.
What will you do with the home or apartment the Lord has given you? Will you keep it primarily for your own needs, or will you dare to dedicate yourself and your home to Him and see scores of people coming to eternal life and growing stronger in the Lord Jesus—a fruitful harvest for Him?