My Heart, Christ's Home

   Happy Tuesday, readers!  It is such a gorgeous, hot day here where I live, and I am loving it!  I know that it has been quite a while since I posted, but it has been an eventful summer for me to say the least.  Well, enough of my excuses.

   Last night, I had the privilege of visiting my dad's Bible study that he teaches for the young, married couples at our church.  I usually don't attend, since I don't yet have a husband, haha, but dad was nice enough to let me join in on last nights meeting as a single young woman. ;-)

   My dad has been teaching from the book of Ephesians.  Last night, he delved into chapter 3 vv. 14-21.

    Ephesians is such a great book, and these particular verses are indeed convicting to read! (*go read them!*)

   My dad discussed quite a bit from verse 17.  This verse states,

"...That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--..."  

    My dad pointed out the word "dwell".   Every Christian is indwelt by Christ the moment he trusts in Him as Savior and Lord.   Christ lives in us, he dwells within us!

   To give more of a picture of what this means, my dad shared with everyone what author Robert Munger wrote in his book entitled, My Heart Christ's Home. 

     Munger, in his book, pictures the Christian life as a house, through which Jesus goes from room to room.  In the library, which is the mind, Jesus finds trash and all sorts of worthless things, which He proceeds to throw out, and replace with His Word.  In the dining room of appetite He finds many sinful desires listed in a worldly menu. In the place of such things as prestige, materialism, and lust He puts humility, meekness, love, and all the other virtues for which believers are to hunger and thirst.  He goes through the living room of fellowship, where He finds many worldly companions and activities, through the workshop, where only toys are being made, into the closet, where hidden sins are kept, and so on through the entire house.  Only when He had cleaned every room, closet, and corner of sin and foolishness could He settle down and be at home. 

     "Jesus enters the house of our hearts the moment He saves us, but he cannot live there in comfort and satisfaction until it is cleansed of sin and filled with His will," Munger writes.  "God is gracious beyond comprehension and infinitely patient.  He continues to love those of His children who insist on spurning His will.  Be He cannot be happy or satisfied in such a heart.  He cannot be fully at home until He is allowed to dwell in our hearts through the continuing faith that trusts him to exercise His lordship over every aspect of our lives.  We practice as well as receive His presence by faith.  How awesome and wonderful that the almighty and holy God wants to live in our hearts, be at home there, and rule there! Yet Jesus said, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him."' (John 14:23).

    Wow.  What do you think of that?! After my dad shared this, it gave me such a clearer picture of what the word dwell really means.

    Does Christ dwell in you?!  Are you keeping His Word and following after Him?!

    These are some good questions to think about, friends!

     May you have a Christ-centered week and learn to understand more and more of what it means for Christ to dwell in you!

~Grow in Grace~

2 Peter 3:18