How can we ensure our lives are a suitable dwelling place for God today? God’s Blueprint to Live Among Us “Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.” (Exodus 29:45) The verse is simple and unambiguous: God’s settled intention is to live right in the midst of His people. That purpose has never changed; the venue has. From Tent to Heart: Where God Dwells Now • Tabernacle in the wilderness (Exodus 25–40) • Temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:10-13) • Jesus “tabernacled” among us (John 1:14) • Believers are now His temple: “Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17) • The final reality: “Behold, God’s dwelling place is now with man.” (Revelation 21:3) Christ Opens the Door • “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13) • “Through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:18) Without Christ’s cleansing, no heart can house a holy God. With it, every heart can. Preparing the Dwelling: Core Priorities • Cleansing — Confess and forsake sin. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) • Obedience — “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word… We will come to him and make Our home with him.” (John 14:23) • Holiness — “Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?… He who has clean hands and a pure heart.” (Psalm 24:3-4) • Surrender — “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” (Romans 12:1) • Spirit-filled living — “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) Everyday Habits That Keep the House Ready • Start each day inviting His lordship; end it with honest reflection and repentance. • Feed on Scripture; it sweeps every room clean (Psalm 119:9-11). • Keep short accounts with people; relational bitterness grieves the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30-32). • Practice gratitude and worship; God “inhabits the praises” of His people (Psalm 22:3). • Serve others; love is the unmistakable fragrance of His presence (John 13:35). Living Proof of His Presence • Character transformation—the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). • Courage and peace that surpass understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). • Effective witness—“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27) • Unity with other believers—“In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” (Ephesians 2:21-22) Holding Fast to the Promise “For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.’” (2 Corinthians 6:16) Keep the house swept, surrendered, and Spirit-filled, and the One who longed to dwell in a desert tent will gladly call your life His home today. |
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