As you approach my little house of happiness from a distance, what do you see? Before you stands an ordinary building, surrounded by the fence of God's law and no different from other structures. And the question arises: Was it worth working so hard only to end up with such a modest appearance?
Although this building stands on a mountaintop and can be seen from everywhere and by everyone, it still does not look grand and does not amaze anyone by its outward appearance, except that from time to time it displays a beautiful smile.
But not everyone enters the house to see what it is built of or how strong and comfortable it is.
Yet all the comfort within this home brings joy to my heart. This little house was also built to bring joy to the hearts of my friends, my neighbors, and everyone with whom I come in contact in this world.
I dedicate everything I have and possess to my Lord. I understand that there is nothing good in me with which I could boast before Him or justify myself. And what I have built was given to me from above as a gift in response to my prayers, longing, and efforts. Therefore, I return to Him everything I have received from God's hand and dedicate it to my Lord. This includes my entire house and everything in it. I desire that all I have, all I have managed to accumulate and build, should rightfully belong to its true Owner.
And as I bow in prayer, I surrender and dedicate my entire self into God's hands.
My prayer is heard. From now on, my structure no longer belongs to me, but becomes the property of Heaven. Yet all of it is now entrusted back to me so that I may continue living in it and filling my little house with everything that will adorn it and make it comfortable within.
And so that I may live joyfully, I invite my other half into this undertaking—the one who has long been mine or who became my other half during the building process. As a result of our relationship, living beings called children and grandchildren appear in our home. They create indescribable warmth and comfort, love to explore everything and test its strength, and at the same time bring great joy to the heart. All of this is given to me from above to fill my life with activity and merriment and to polish the walls of my little house of happiness from within. But the main task is to teach all these people to build their own houses on a firm foundation with eternal materials.
It is a great joy and very easy for me to share what I have in my little house. I continually demonstrate the strength of the bonds and the durability of the material. The walls of the house are sometimes attacked from within, leaving scars and marks on them, but love covers all things.
At the entrance I hang a sign that says, ‘I Am Hospitable,’ to draw into my home even those who do not know me personally, and I joyfully serve those who come to me out of curiosity or friendship. Every visitor or guest receives as a gift a part of my heart, my love, and my friendliness, and then decides what to do with it. I cannot keep from giving love. I have forgotten how to live any other way. Although I am taught not to offer what is holy to suspicious people, I still keep making mistakes and giving love to everyone without distinction. I know that many will reject my gifts and misrepresent the purity of my heart, but I would rather err on the side of love and kindness toward people than withdraw into my selfishness and lose all the blessings of Heaven.
Heaven watches me very closely—how I handle spiritual riches, how I manage the property entrusted to me, and how I treat my neighbors. My life is weighed on Heaven's scales, and my weight is determined solely by the presence of Jesus in my life. With Him I am very heavy, but without Him my structure weighs nothing.
All my words and actions are carefully recorded by Heaven's cameras. All my motives and thoughts are attentively examined by my Creator. What interests Him most is not the number of my good deeds, but how much of His love was invested in each one.
The holiness of my character and of my relationships with other people is determined by my personal relationship with Jesus and by the presence of the Spirit of love in every area of my life. It is not I, but God's love, that draws me to good deeds. And everything done with love and out of love entitles me to receive even more love. My deeds become like a snowball that grows larger and larger as it rolls, until it turns into an avalanche that pours into the lives of my neighbors and brings them joy amid their gray weekdays. Unlike a real avalanche, however, my love destroys nothing; it only restores.
I am learning holiness in relationships. How deeply I desire them to be pure and special. Every person is given to me to test my love, to help me discover a new approach, and to reveal the strengths and weaknesses of my character. And while I am studying in the school of Christ, I should not be afraid of mistakes, for mistakes also teach many lessons. I stop, review my life and behavior, recognize my failures, and run to my Jesus for help. And He instructs me, cleansing me with His blood.
Although I try to do everything personally, I nevertheless understand that I am only one part of the whole body of Christ and that I am not being saved alone. In this body of Christ, every member has his own task and function. And God dreams of having a well-coordinated body that is holy in every respect and works faultlessly for His glory.
Although my love is considered mine, it is drawn from the common ocean of God's Love and is given equally to everyone so that each may love according to the need. And in this love we become one while remaining unique individuals and not losing our personal responsibility before God.
The most pleasant and interesting examination of love is called ‘My Family.’ My family is a lifelong source of constant influence. I was born into one family, I created another, and I observe the families of my children and grandchildren. All of us are closely intertwined by family relationships that remain strong only in the light of love and mutual respect. And we continue to stay connected.
The holiness of every relationship is determined by my conscious understanding that it must be pure, friendly, and consistent with God's principles of love.
The holiness of my character must bear the seal of God's approval, and then it will also be reflected in my behavior. And God can approve only what He plants and nurtures in my heart with His own hand.
Love is a plant of Heavenly origin that has been entrusted to my care so that it may bear much fruit in my life.
The holiness of our relationships with our neighbors and fellow believers will bear the seal of God's approval when the fruit of our love for one another continually brings joy to God's heart. This is possible, and it is worth striving for.
If there is friction and disagreement between us, it means that we are still in the process of building, and we greatly need love to bind our hearts to one another.
In every situation, my character, dedicated to God, will depend on the presence of God's love in my heart. And I am learning this condition of the soul so that I may always abide in it and so that my faith may work through love.
Please come and visit. My doors are open to all of you, my friends. Jesus and I are waiting for your attacks so that we may respond to everything with love. And do not forget to bring Jesus with you.
Bible verses for this chapter:
1 Chronicles 29:14; Romans 6:22; Hebrews 12:14; Matthew 6:1–8, 16–18; 2 Corinthians 3:18; John 13:34–35; 14:18–21; 15:5–10; 1 Corinthians 7:2; Ecclesiastes 9:9; Proverbs 5:18–19; Psalm 127:1–5; Daniel 12:3; 1 Timothy 4:16; 5:8; Ephesians 4:15–16; Micah 6:8; 1 John 4:7; 3:23–24