Is God at Home in You

In Paul’s prayer we find what Stott referred to as climbing a ladder of prayer. The first rung was power, but let’s go to the second rung today…residence. In Ephesians 3:17 Paul says, “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…”

There is no doubt that the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit indwells us the moment we are saved, but the word Paul uses for dwell gives us a clue as to what he is talking about. One Greek word for dwell speaks of dwelling somewhere as a stranger—we find it in 2:19, “so then you are no longer strangers or aliens…” The other Greek word, the one Paul uses in our text speaks of taking up residence, of being at home, of something permanent and not temporary.

Through faith Paul wants to see Jesus at home in our lives. Is He at home in your life? Do you remember the pamphlet that was out where Jesus moved into someone’s house and He began to clean out the house room by room? Look at the places in your life—what you watch, what your read, what you listen to, who you hang out with, where you go, etc.…is Jesus at home there or is He a stranger in your life? That seems to be a strange question, but if you are calling Jesus your Lord and yet living like the world He isn’t at home in your life and you are not at home in Him. Power and residence—pray for yourself and for others along these two lines, but don’t stop there.

There is nothing quite like being home! I often judge a good weekend by how close I stayed to my back yard! I love to travel, but I love being home even more and there is nothing like the feeling, the hope, the knowledge of God being at home in me as I grow accustomed to being at home in Him!