An Empty House and a Hotdog with Dill Relish

When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭43‬-‭45‬ 

Have you ever cleaned your house from top to bottom, stood back, admired your work, and thought, "Now, if everyone would just stay out of it!" 😂

In Matthew 12:43–45, Jesus tells us about an unclean spirit that leaves a person, only to return and find its former home empty, swept, and put in order. The spirit then brings seven others more wicked than itself, leaving that person worse off than before.

There is something in that passage that has been weighing heavily on my heart.

The house was clean. The house was orderly. But the house was EMPTY.

Think about a new believer, someone who has just surrendered their life to Christ. They're excited! They're ready to change! They begin removing the things from their lives that they recognize aren't pleasing to God. Old habits, old influences, old ways of thinking. They're sweeping out the house!

But what happens when they don't fill that space with something better?

What happens when they don't find fellowship with other believers? Maybe they feel like they don't belong. Maybe they don't know where to start. Or, and this one might sting a little, maybe those of us who have been sitting comfortably in our church pews for years haven't made enough room for them.

Something to think about, isn't it?

Today was our annual Fall Festival for our local school, and after most of the Boss Team spent some part of the day working in the kitchen, we found ourselves thinking about food. Shocking, I know! 😂

We had pulled pork available, but we also offered hotdogs because not everyone likes pulled pork. Now, a hotdog might not be the most nutritious meal in the world, but when you've been working all day and haven't eaten, that little hotdog can taste like a gourmet feast! Especially with DILL relish. Yes, DILL. We had sweet relish too, but some of us clearly have more refined tastes. (Disagree..we have a team member who WILL fight you!...in good fun!!) 🤨😂

Here's the thing, though. When you're hungry, you need to be fed.

And our spiritual lives are no different.

We cannot expect new believers to empty their lives of everything they've known and then leave them spiritually starving. They need God's Word. They need prayer. They need fellowship. They need encouragement. And they need brothers and sisters in Christ who will welcome them to the table rather than make them feel like they don't belong.

But this isn't just about new believers. Even those of us who have walked with Christ for years need to be careful that we aren't so focused on keeping our houses clean that we forget Who is supposed to live there.

Jesus doesn't call us to simply become better housekeepers. He calls us to belong to Him.

A clean house is wonderful, but a house filled with Christ is what we truly need.

So this week, ask yourself two questions: What am I filling my spiritual house with? And am I helping someone else find their place at the table?

Because an empty house leaves room for trouble, but a heart surrendered to Christ has found its true home.

And if someone new shows up at your table, make them feel welcome. You never know how hungry they might be.

Even if they prefer sweet relish. ❤️