An encouragement from Katie Crothers in England.
Above Rubies really opened my eyes up to the beauty and purpose of being in my home. Before this ministry, no one had ever broken it down and I confess I held onto the usual frustrations of not being “out there” firstly working, and then “doing” ministry because I was at home with children. How mislead I was!
Anyway, I have just finished the book of Acts, and was struck by 28:30 - 31.
"Then Paul dwelt two whole years in HIS OWN RENTED HOUSE, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him." (NKJV)
In this passage we see the Lord’s fullfillment of 23:11 when the Lord says to Paul he will also testify in Rome. Yet under what circumstances does Paul find himself delivering this promise of God to the biggest nation in the world? Under house arrest (28:16)! Paul, this shipwrecked, snake-bitten, synogouge preaching, publically beaten and widely travelled man brought the gospel to Rome FROM HIS HOME.
Arguably, now that the Gospel reached Rome (the centre of trade and government) it would spread across the world. Yet Paul never took the gospel to the streets of Rome. He didn't enter temples or trading ports. He stayed completely in his home for two years (28:30).
The word here is “meno” meaning “to stay, abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, stand, tarry.”'
And the scriptures go on further to state that he was “akolutos,” meaning unhindered. Other translations say “boldly without hindrance.”
What struck me is Paul could have gone out all over Rome but it was in the walls of a humble, rented dwelling that the Gospel reached Rome through Paul as he preached and taught. He certainly did not grumble at being home all day In fact, he saw it as a place of work and freedom.
And if the Lord sees the home a suitable place in which to place Paul to spread the gospel (in arguably the most impactful two years of his ministry) how much more should we be blessed to share the Gospel unhindered to those who come to us in our homes today!
May our homes have the impact for the Kingdom of God as Paul's “own rented house.”
KATIE CROTHERS
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Family Picture: Rob and Katie with their lovely children: Poppy, Heidi and baby Jonathan Henry.
(I was blessed to take a meeting in Rob and Katie’s home when we were ministering in England last year. Nancy).