Throughout the years, I have been asked to perform all kinds of services for members of the Christian community. I have performed hundreds of rehearsals and weddings, numerous funerals, opening prayers at receptions and corporate meetings; and I have taught the Bible for more than 25 years. Additionally, I have done hospital visits, prayed for dying people, helped thousands of folks with career transitions and, on rare occasion, I have been asked to participate in house blessings or dedications.
It occurs to me that many people have never even heard of a house blessing but since I attended one earlier this week, I thought I would share my experience and encourage you to consider this if you haven’t already dedicated your house to the service of the Lord. The dedication can be a very powerful ministry tool in your effort to advance the kingdom of God here on earth.
The original idea comes from the idea that God owns everything – your home, your clothes, your car and every other asset you consider yours. Scripturally, we are told that everything, including the animals, belongs to God. In the olden days, acknowledgment of this meant that you honored God by dedicating your possessions to Him. In fact, the Levite tribe, comprised of the priests and those who attended the tabernacle and set up the worship area during the time in the desert, didn’t even get a share of the wealth for themselves when God divided up the proceeds after the entry into the Promised Land. It was expected that the priests would live off the tithe provided by the other tribes.
Many Christians fail to realize that we can dedicate things to the Lord. There are baby dedications whereby we promise to raise our children in a God centered home. In ancient times, families dedicated their oldest sons to a life of service to God. And we can also dedicate physical things as well. For example, several years ago during the Covid pandemic, our church met outside rather than in the sanctuary. The parking places that had been used to park our cars during worship suddenly became “sacred spaces” for worship. We dedicated that time and space to God. To this day, each week when I park our car and enter the building, I remember that we are parking in what was a “sacred space.”
Similarly, especially for those of us who have the spiritual gift of hospitality, we can derive great enjoyment from entertaining in our homes. Many believe that when purchasing a new home, or moving to a new apartment, etc. it is good to dedicate the space to the Lord. Therefore, we ask a blessing on all who enter that they may be blessed and encouraged and loved well during their time in the house.
This may sound a little over the top but our family has practiced this ritual for many years now. And this week one of my ministry partners, a dear friend, closed on his new home after 18 years in his last house. He asked several of us to come by after closing on Tuesday and pray a dedication of the house to the service of the Lord. There were only several of us there and three of us, who have done ministry together for more than 25 years, each prayed for different elements of the house and the hospitality that we hoped would always be conveyed under its roof. We also prayed that we would be good witnesses and a wonderful testimony to the Lord. I was honored to have been asked to pray and participate in the blessing.
There are many ways to accomplish this dedication. In this case, we prayed globally for the entire home. Sometimes, people move from room to room and pray for each area of the house. And still others pray in the gardens or entrances to the house. And it is even possible to pray that the building will be strong and and well built, giving the owner joy and freedom from worry.
So each of us has a choice on who we will serve. Of course, I believe that we should dedicate our lives and our possessions to the Lord. Tonight’s verse comes from the book of Joshua. He was the assistant to Moses and was the one who eventually led the people of God across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Joshua reminds us that we should choose who we are going to serve. He tells us, in Joshua 24:15, “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
My encouragement this evening is that Joshua made a great choice and so should each of us. My friend Rich dedicated his home this week within several hours of closing. But it’s never too late to put a stake in the ground and dedicate your home. My prayer is that we will all look seriously for ways to honor God with our material goods. After all, we are really stewards and it all belongs to Him anyway. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…