Ephesians 3:17

"May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love." Ephesians 3:17

"That Christ may dwell permanently in our hearts" is what Paul asked that we be strengthened for in verse 16. In our hearts here in 17 is the same thing as "inner man" in verse 16. Even though we receive Christ at salvation and He has now "moved in"... the settling down (suggested here) means having full access to "every" room. What's in the back room that's locked so that He's not allowed into? Why is the refrigerator "Off Limits"? Why can't He go to the mailbox with you? Christ needs to feel at home in our hearts, and that means He needs to be "free" to go wherever He wants to go!

God is a God of order! There is order within His Word and there is order in this prayer Paul is laying before God, for you and for me. If we are going to "be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love", we're going to need for Christ to have complete reign within our hearts! And if Christ is going to be allowed full access to our hearts, we're going to need strengthen by The Holy Spirit. That is the order Paul is aware of and is the reason he has set his prayer, thus far. Amen?

And so we've come to this part in Paul's prayer about, "being rooted deep in love and founded securely on love". You'll notice, this is the first order of business upon Christ's "actually dwelling... settling down, abiding, and making His permanent home in our hearts". It's got to be... Why?

"By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves]." John 13:35

"If anyone says, I love God, and hates (detests, abominates) his brother [in Christ], he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, Whom he has not seen. 1 John 4:20

These are just a couple verses that tell us that if Love is not being manifested at some point, you MUST go back to your commitment with Christ. Listen, We are covered by the blood of Christ at salvation, but it's not a "smoke and mirror" show for God... Christ promises to make you like Himself and He is love! Again, if it's not happening, please go back to Christ and re-negotiate your covenant with Him.

"We are [children] of God. Whoever is learning to know God [progressively to perceive, recognize, and understand God by observation and experience, and to [get an ever-clearer knowledge of Him] listens to us; and he who is not of God does not listen or pay attention to us. By this we know (recognize) the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; and he who loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God [to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of Him]." 1 John 4:6-7

Let's pick up with Ephesians verse 3:18-19 next time.

I love you.