Recognizing Christ’s Presence
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?”
Luke 24:16–18
Maybe you’ve heard the story of the little boy who was visiting his grandmother’s house when she asked him to go to the downstairs pantry and get a can of tomatoes she could use in making supper. He looked at the dark stairs leading down to the basement with some fear, and to comfort him she said, “Johnny, don’t be afraid. Remember Jesus is in there.” The little boy started into the darkness and then stopped and said, “Jesus if You’re in there, could You just hand me the tomatoes?”
We know the spiritual truth that God is always with us in the person of the Holy Spirit who lives within each believer from the moment of salvation. One of the most beautiful of all the names of Jesus is Immanuel, which means “God with us.” Yet the reality is that many Christians do not have a real sense of His presence as part of their daily lives. We go to work, go home, go to church, and go about our errands as a matter of routine without stopping to consider that God is there with us.
If we live with a real sense of God’s presence, it changes us. The apostles were not powerful in their witness because of their great education or eloquence, but because of the time they spent with the Lord. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
Luke 24:16–18
Maybe you’ve heard the story of the little boy who was visiting his grandmother’s house when she asked him to go to the downstairs pantry and get a can of tomatoes she could use in making supper. He looked at the dark stairs leading down to the basement with some fear, and to comfort him she said, “Johnny, don’t be afraid. Remember Jesus is in there.” The little boy started into the darkness and then stopped and said, “Jesus if You’re in there, could You just hand me the tomatoes?”
We know the spiritual truth that God is always with us in the person of the Holy Spirit who lives within each believer from the moment of salvation. One of the most beautiful of all the names of Jesus is Immanuel, which means “God with us.” Yet the reality is that many Christians do not have a real sense of His presence as part of their daily lives. We go to work, go home, go to church, and go about our errands as a matter of routine without stopping to consider that God is there with us.
If we live with a real sense of God’s presence, it changes us. The apostles were not powerful in their witness because of their great education or eloquence, but because of the time they spent with the Lord. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
Today’s Growth Principle:
Christ never leaves us or forsakes us, but we must be alert and aware of His presence.
God Lives In You
by Joyce Meyer - posted November 12, 2016May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts!
—Ephesians 3:17
For many years I believed in Jesus Christ as my Savior but did not enjoy close fellowship with God. I felt that I was always reaching for Him and coming short of my goal. One day, as I stood before a mirror combing my hair, I asked Him a simple question: “God, why do I consistently feel as though I am reaching for You and coming a little bit short of finding You?”
Immediately I heard these words inside my spirit: Joyce, you are reaching out, and you need to be reaching in. God’s Word says that He lives in us, but many people find this truth difficult to understand. I did, too, for a long time.
I recall a day when I was walking around my house with my head hanging down—I was downcast! I was murmuring and complaining, saying, “God, I’m so tired of all the struggles I have. When are You going to do something? When am I going to get a breakthrough?”
Just then God reminded me that He lived inside me, and that fact alone should keep me joyful.
If you are born again, then Jesus is dwelling in you through the power of the Holy Spirit. But is God comfortable in you, and does He feel at home there within you? It took me a long time to understand that God lives in me along with all the other stuff that’s going on in my inner life. Because many Christians are not willing to submit to the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit, they are not full of peace. Their inner lives are constantly in turmoil. If we want to be a comfortable home for the Lord, let’s learn to dwell in peace and joy, trusting Him to take care of us.
Trust in Him: Is God comfortable in you? If you want to be a comfortable home for the Lord, let go of everything you believe makes Him uncomfortable and fill yourself instead with gratitude, joy, and peace—and simply trust in Him.
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