Devotional Thought – Faith At Home

11 Jun Devotional Thought – Faith At Home

“By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” Hebrews 11:7

This was a most modest and humble place for one to exercise their faith. In fact, some might say that the purpose was in fact disproportionate to the greatness of the task. The construction of the ark was no doubt a great undertaking, but why was it constructed in the first place? Noah built it, the writer of Hebrews tells us, to save his own family. Was such a small sphere worthy of being the object of one’s faith? Can such a humble place as the home been seen as a proper place to serve Almighty God?

Most people believe that a man’s work at home is separate from his religious responsibilities; that they are so small and simple when compared with public worship and the proclamation of the Word. Attending church is seen as something spiritual, while leading one’s family is seen as being secular in nature. Then I read these words, and they teach me that this kind of thinking is a delusion. It is something far from reality.

Noah was told to build an ark for one purpose – so that his family would be saved. He built that ark to save His home. The entire time he spent working on the construction of that ark was done for his family, and that was counted as something altogether unexpected – faith. The Lord allowed his work to be done for one reason, with a singular motive – domestic deliverance. He built that ark for the consecration of something completely commonplace, for the protection of his sons and daughters. However, because he was so diligent in the performing of his domestic duty, he is counted among those, who by their faith and perseverance, inherited the promise of God.

Don’t think that when you have finished your public worship, and said “amen” at the end of your prayers, that you are no longer in the presence and place of God. If you truly seek to serve Him in every way and place, then you will be like the Psalmist and “dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” His house will be wherever you go – including when you walk through the door of your own house.

When you enter into that place you should feel as though you are entering the front doors of a church. There should be the sense of a place of holy worship and an atmosphere of divine service. You should feel that everything that is done in and for this place is sanctified, that it is no different than work that is done in the house of God or even that which is done through the very gates of Heaven. Every deed should be seen as not being different from communion. If you break bread around your table in His name, then you are in one way fulfilling the Savior’s command of doing so in remembrance of Him. If you share the warmth of your love at your family altar, then you are giving to those in your family what may very well be their very first sense of God.

How can they love their Heavenly Father apart from the image of their earthly father? How will they cherish their spiritual brother  except through that which they learned in their human brotherhood. How might they come to appreciate the scripture’s revelation of a house with many rooms if their experience in an earthly home has not been that of peace? So, whatever you do, make this your goal – make sure that your house becomes like His house. Sanctify every word, deed, and thought that takes place within the walls of your home. May it be your ark of safety from the carnal wants of this common day, because if you do so, your work of love will be considered an act of faith.