IS GOD IN YOUR HOUSE? - - -

When you left home today, was God there? When you get back and unlock the door, will God be in your house? Many people go to meet God briefly on Sunday at church services, but God doesn't even get in the car with them on the way home. What about you? Is God in your house? Ask yourself some of these things to determine the answer.

First, is there "God talk" in your home? Do people talk about what is right and wrong? Do they discuss the will of God when decisions are to be made? Do parents talk about what God wants for their children's lives? Do people in your house speak of God when they sit in the house, when they take walks, when they get up in the morning, or when they go to bed at night?

Nest, is prayer in your home? Do you pray regularly at the table? Do parents pray with children at bedtime? Do you and your spouse pray about things together? Could we open a door in your house and find particular family members praying privately?

Is God's word in the house? Do parents ever read the Bible or tell Bible stories to kids? Is scripture ever read out loud? Do people listen to the Bible on tapes or CD's at home or in the car? Could anyone ever be found reading the Bible privately? Is God's word being heard in your house?

Is God in your house rules? What about the rules governing how family members talk to each other? What about the rules governing movies and TV programs? Is God in the rules regarding truth telling? Is God in the rules regarding courtesy and helpfulness?

Is God in the family's daily schedule? Are there regular times reserved for things such as Sunday worship, Bible school, and other spiritual activities? Are some of these things sacrosanct in your schedule or can they be easily "bumped" by worldly activities.

Is God in your family budget? Do the people in your house talk about putting God first financially? Is your family's weekly giving a major family commitment that everyone understands as a priority in the family life?

Joshua said, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." God lives in houses where people talk about him, pray to him, listen to his word, incorporate his will in the family rules, give him a priority in the family schedule, and give him a priority spot in the family budget. So, who will you find waiting for you when you get home? . . .