Jesus Dwells Within

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Our reading, titled Jesus Dwells Within, was written by Patricia Rabin. As a blizzard bore down on my state in the western United States, my widowed mother agreed to stay with my family to ride out the storm. After the blizzard, however, she never returned to her house. She moved in, dwelling with us for the rest of her life. Her presence changed our household in many positive ways. She was available daily to provide wisdom, advice to family members, and share ancestral stories.

She and my husband became the best of friends, sharing a similar sense of humor and love of sports. No longer a visitor, she was a permanent and vital resident, forever changing our hearts even after God called her home. The experience recalls John's description of Jesus, that he dwelt among us.

It's a compelling description because in the original Greek the word dwelt means to pitch a tent. Another translation says he made his home among us. By faith we also receive Jesus as the one who dwells in our hearts. As Paul wrote in Ephesians chapter 3, I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources, he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.

Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. Not a casual visitor, Jesus is an empowering, permanent resident of all who follow him. May we open wide the doors of our hearts and welcome him. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Ephesians chapter 3, verses 14 through 20. For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Let's pray. Lord Jesus, thank you for taking up residence in our heart, infusing us with your perfect love and grace. We pray, along with Paul, that you would strengthen us through your Spirit and cause our roots to grow deep and strong in you. It's in your merciful name that we pray. Amen. Thanks for listening today. My name is Joyce Dinkins, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.