Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your altar, O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!
What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises. Psalm. 84:3-4 NLT
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 ESV
Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 1 John 4:17 NRS
This psalm is one of my favorites, particularly because of the image of the sparrow nesting perhaps in the very lattice-work of the altar (v. 4). I see her sitting there securely, glancing about but quite untroubled in the midst of splashing blood and odorific flames. How can she do it? Because she has learned that she has nothing to fear; she is safe, she is at home.
This is why I remain committed to the use of the word “abide” in John 15, when contemporary translations have gone to “live,” or “dwell,” or “remain,” all of which are valid translations of the Greek word that the gospel writer used. But more than any of those “abide” speaks to me of being settled at home, like that bird. It seems to me that this is what the whole Bible envisages for us – coming home to God – he in us, we in him. The Old Testament speaks of the promised land as being a place of “rest” for God’s people. I don’t know if the Old Testament believers made the connection or not, but the root idea from which “rest” comes is “to roost.” God intends for our Canaan to be a place where we can safely roost, like that bird in the temple.
This is what John is talking about in his first letter: perfect love casts out fear. When we are at home in Jesus, and Jesus is at home in us, we are safe; we don’t need to be afraid of anything, most of all, judgment. What a wonderful reality. How lovely is your dwelling place. Are you at home?
Called To Be Transformed 