Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
Before my mom moved into her new house recently, every time that we drove home to see her, we would pass right by Calvary Baptist Church. It is your textbook red brick, white steeple, stain glass window, small town church. My earliest memories of going to church are from the pews in this building.
I was saved sitting on the front row at a vacation bible school here too many years ago to remember.
Later, we moved to the church where my mom still goes to today. My best memories growing up in church are from here. We had a small youth group but we all were close, and still are today. This church became, and still is, family. We laughed together. We cry together. Even though I live hours away, it’s great to go home just to be with family.
It has nothing to do with the building.
“The house of the Lord…” isn’t the red brick at Calvary. It’s not the rocks outside First Baptist Odenville. It’s not even the large sanctuary, the classrooms or the cafe at FBCVR where my family goes every Sunday.
It’s all about who is inside that make up the house of the Lord.
God has used so many people in my life. They have poured their lives into mine and taught me how to do the same. Most of these were at church. There was always some reason or another to get together, spend time together, fellowship and of course, eat. Being raised in a Baptist church, it is said, “Where 2 or more Baptists are gathered, a chicken has to die.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider together how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
The house of the Lord is also a place where God shows up. He can and will show up anywhere He wants but His Word promises…
Mathew 18:20 “For where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them.”
God will show up regardless of if you are in the largest church around or at a booth at McDonald’s. Where his people come together to be with Him, to pray or just to be a shoulder for someone to lean on. That is the Lord’s house.
Genesis 28:17 How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”
Dwelling in the house of the Lord to me means you are always there. Where ever the Lord’s house is, you are there as a witness and as the hands and feet of Christ for whoever needs you.
I have a very close friend that attended the same church Steph and I did years ago. So many times I have called her or she has called me for different reasons. She is my prayer warrior and I try to be hers. Many times she has called me upset just needing someone to listen and pray with her. Many times I have needed the same and called her. Even though we are miles apart, we are dwelling in the house of the Lord, over a phone line. Many phone calls between us have ended in prayers for each other, for our needs, and for our families.
It’s so amazing when you see God answer those prayers shared over a phone line when one of us needed more than we knew.
Psalms 84:10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere
Keith
KWHITE75 