Taking Jesus Home Series

• How many of us have invited him into our hearts, but not into our houses

• invited him into our hearts but not our workplace

• invited him into our hearts but not our hobbies and recreational activities.

The best thing Peter ever did was make Jesus Christ central to every aspect of his life. At home, Peter continues to have all of the struggles of life. He has a wife, a brother and a mother-in-law to care for. His mother-in-law is sick and possibly dying. So, Peter took Jesus into his home and into his family.

When Jesus arrives, Peter’s mother-in-law is laid up. Peter probably doesn’t know for sure what is going to happen, but he takes Jesus to her anyway. And Jesus responds to Peter’s faith. He brings healing to his household.

Jesus simply reached out and touched her hand and the fever was dispelled. He raised her from her bed and, without any time for recovery, she begins to wait on her visitors.

There are some valuable lessons for Peter and for us in this story.

The first lesson, we have already touched on. Jesus Christ wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives. Too often, we categorize the spiritual and the secular. We put Jesus, religion, prayer, Bible study and worship over here in the spiritual. Over in the secular we put our family, our work, our relaxation, our hobbies, our habits, our relationships, and all of the other things that we think are not important to God.

But the fact of the matter is, when Jesus called us – as he did with Peter – to “follow Him,” everything becomes spiritual. Everything matters to Jesus. He wants to be invited into the home. He wants to help with sick Mother-in-laws. He wants to help with wayward children. He wants to be involved with the family finances. He wants us to include Him in our crises. Like Peter, we must bring Jesus home with us.

There is a second valuable lesson for us here this morning also. Through this healing, I think that Peter learned that Jesus was going to meet all of his needs – as Paul put it – according to His riches in glory.

Peter had made an amazing commitment to Jesus Christ when he left the fishing business and began following Him. It was a tremendous act of faith. I am sure that during the early days, he must have wondered how his family would be taken care of. Who would provide for the families material and physical needs while he was off following Jesus? Who would put meat on the table and clothes in the drawers?

This event went a long way in answering those questions for Peter. Jesus had demonstrated that He could and would take care of Peter’s needs. Peter would continue to be responsible for his family for the rest of His life, but Jesus would be the one who was providing for him.

Later, when Jesus would preach his most famous sermon – the Sermon on the Mount – Peter knew exactly what Jesus was saying when he said:

“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.