18/08/2015 - The importance of having Jesus dwell in your heart

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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. Ephesians 3.17-18

The Lord used the apostle Paul to give some useful instructions to our brothers in Ephesus, so that they could enjoy the gifts made available to everyone who converts to the Gospel. People who do not learn what they ought to do through their faith in Jesus to enjoy their blessings, which is always simple, will go about their days desiring more from God and, even though they fast and pray, they will find them to be useless.

It all comes down to Jesus inhabiting their hearts through faith. This would allow them to receive more from the Most High. We must not have Him over for special occasions, as we would have visitors; He must be a permanent resident. The owner of the house will realize that, besides being polite, the Master knows how to care of the one hosting Him. It is necessary for us to be in the Lord and the Lord in us so that our requests can be granted.  

Paul prayed that, according to the riches of God’s glory, the Christians in Ephesus would be strengthened with power when the Holy Spirit worked in them. The divine glory is extremely rich and more than able to accomplish the Father’s will. However, you must be clothed in the power of the Holy Spirit so that the capacity to do God’s will can be imparted to you.

It was not enough to have Jesus dwelling in their hearts; they had to be rooted and grounded in love. Likewise, you should pay closer attention to how you live with God, scrutinizing whatever He brings to your attention and, at the same time, being careful not to fall into temptation. Any hint of hate or malice that is in you with your permission can disqualify you.

Those Christians would understand the width and length and depth and height of their work in the Gospel. Look: the Word of God is our boundary. If they were grounded in love, they would know how to respect the limits set by the Lord. Our focus should not only be that we have a solution to our problems, but what must be done to get there as well.

Our brothers from Ephesus would be taken by the fullness of God as long as they tasted the love of Christ, which is beyond all understanding. Now, if anyone receives this fullness, there is no space left for evil to work. Therefore, we must have the One who is the greatest dwell in us, so that we won’t fear him who is in the world (1 John 4.4) nor be touched by him.

All glory would be given to the Most High God, who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3.20). However, if we live in the flesh, the power of the Lord will certainly not be at work in us. This promise is, without a doubt, only for those who believe.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares