THURSDAY May 16, 2024

Make Jesus at Home in Your Heart

...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–– to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:17-19

Paul’s prayer places great importance on knowing the love of Christ. In the preceding verses, he mentioned the whole family in heaven and earth is named. He was speaking about the Jews and Gentiles, and, as they were now in Christ, they had become one big family. Christians are all knit together in Christ’s love. Paul also wrote a letter to the Colossians, and it had a very similar theme as was penned in his prayer for the Ephesians:

...that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ... (Colossians 2:2).

Paul’s desire for the Ephesians was for Christ to dwell in their hearts by faith. The Greek language for the word dwell means “for Christ to make Himself at home in our hearts” or “to settle down.” There must be true repentance and full surrender by faith before Christ “settles down” in your heart. Let me ask you this question: “Have you allowed Jesus to make Himself at home in your heart by faith?”

Once you have made a commitment to follow Christ, you are to become rooted and grounded in His love. The only way you can know the width, length, depth, and height of His love is by your full surrender. Only then will you grow by leaps and bounds. The love of Christ will govern your life, as He continues to fill you with the power of His Holy Spirit.

Every day we should pray and ask Jesus to fill us with His Spirit so that we can operate under His influence. The evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit is love. With God’s unconditional love, we can reach people with the Gospel, as they see the love of Christ in our actions and words.

The greatest need in the world is the transformation of human nature. We need a new heart.... We need a heart filled with love and peace and joy, and that is why Jesus came into the world.
~Billy Graham~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!