Stay In Your Father’s House
Dear reader, today I greet you in the name of the Lord. It’s a beautiful Saturday evening, even more beautiful is the Sabbath sunset, birds flying and my pretty nieces playing. And I’m writing for you as I enjoy all this fully, I hope as you read this the beautiful scenery plays out in your mind.
It was another church day today, a perfect excuse to meet, commune and share a good and blessed time with others, in the Lord. More so, our minds and spirits were filled. The sermon today blessed me so much that I thought of you and couldn’t wait to write this one out for you. The preacher said, “stay in your father’s house”.
Dear reader, I slept. I’m picking up this writing on a Tuesday afternoon as I wait for my mom to finish up her errands, because she decided I’m her chauffeur today.
So back to the story…
The Pastor took us through the prodigal’s son story, which I suppose you already so familiar with. But if you aren’t here’s Luke 15: 11–32 for you. He stressed on the importance of staying home and not straying. Now, there is an interesting narrative from the same story on how leaving home and the familiar is necessary but it’s not today’s tea. The son lived princely at home yet out there he was made to cater to pigs and eat their leftovers. Such a difference feels like heaven and earth, like I had maid servants at my beck and call then all of a sudden, I’m at the beck and call of my master’s pigs. In a snap of a finger life can change, and again in another snap of a finger and thanks to the father’s mercy things can change again. The beauty of all this is that the prodigal son said…
Pastor went on to call onto the members of the church to stay in the church, that the church may not be all rosy nor ‘glitz and glam’ but you are safer in there. That other church members, leaders and even the Pastor would offend you at times, yet you are safer in there. And yes, I agree about stepping out of your comfort zone and that safe is not always good for growth but for this context let’s go with safe. Pastor then took us with him into Noah’s Ark in Genesis 5:32–10:1, which might have been safe for Noah’s family but was it comfortable? Imagine with the animals in there, it also meant fecal matter and foul smells were very much expected, knowing the situation inside and the one outside, wouldn’t you opt for safety? If you would, why not treat your day-to-day life and Christian living the same? That regardless of the offenses you encounter, be it at home, at your workplace or your place of worship, let nothing get you out of your Father’s house.
Right after church that day I made a stop at a hotel for a swim because this city that I’m in and I love was getting too hot, and I’m not leaving. When I got there, I had the pool all to myself just as I like it. However, the moment was short-lived as other people decided that they too wanted to live a little. In another few minutes we were 8 in the pool and it now got harder to move as I wished but I wasn’t done with my laps so you guessed right, I stayed. To think of it, whether at home, your workplace or church it is easier to accommodate fewer people but when numbers start to increase (family adds up, jobs hire and church gets new members) and even worse when resources become scarcer, it is tempting to leave huh? Or think that others should go so you can get back to how things were? But growth and sometimes safety require us to stretch a little bit and just a little bit bear with discomfort.
Dear one, I hope you stay in your father’s house. Well, if you had left, consider going back to your father’s house. And stay.
