A HOUSE of Prayer for All the Nations
House (IN) implies a spiritual family. In other passages of scripture, God’s people are referred to as a body or an army, but Jesus’ clearest expression of the gathered people is to call the church His “house.” A house is where a family lives. This is a place where we most deeply receive and embrace others. This is a place where we are known and loved for who we are, and where we can take off our masks or false pretenses. God longs to give Himself in committed relationship with people and there is no clearer expression of that then calling His people a “house”.
The scriptural foundation for this dimension of our life together is in John 15:12. “Love one another just like I have loved you”. Jesus expects our love and commitment to one another to reflect something of the very likeness and manner in which He has first loved us.
Jesus stated that, “My mother and brothers are those that hear the word of God and put it into practice.” Jesus was telling us who He commits himself to – those who hear his words and put them into practice. We are to follow his example and commit our lives to one another as we commit to putting Jesus’ words of loving one another into practice in our lives.