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.
Ephesians 3:16,17a
Batteries are a beautiful thing. You put them in the right way and things work. But try to put a AAA battery into a AA battery device, you’re going to have trouble. It’s more than just the size of the battery, it’s the amount of electricity available.
When you replace a battery, you’re only going to get the amount of power printed on the label. You’re not going to get enough to power your house from a AAA battery. You’re only going to get what it’s capable of delivering. You’re only going to get what it was made to give.
But not with God. There are no such limitations with him. God is not limited in the amount of power he can deliver to you and me. He’s not restricted to our size or abilities.
It just keeps getting better. God doesn’t just want us to receive his power, he wants to give us his glorious riches. God shows his glory to have us turn towards him. His glorious riches are at his disposal to give as he chooses. To whoever he wants. Whenever he wants. For whatever he wants.
When God delivers his glorious riches to us, it’s not for our benefit. It’s not to put it into some spiritual savings account, to hold for some future time. No, it’s for right here. Right now. When God shows up with his glorious riches, it’s to immediately be put to use.
And if that weren’t enough, here is the good part. God wants to strengthen you. There is no doubt about it. It’s right there in front of us. The words are there. The promise is there. But what’s his glorious riches to be used for? Are they to be used for a larger house? A new car? A bigger bank account?
No. It’s so his Spirit can come into us. But not just to come for a short visit. God wants his Spirit to come and settle down inside of us. His Spirit wants to make his home within us. He wants to be at the center of our lives, where all our wants, desires, and decisions are made.
Yes, there is a place that God wants to come to. He wants to live within us. To be at home with us. Within us. He wants to be at the center of our lives. He wants to give us his glorious power. And like a battery, his power is to be put to use.
Power for motion – His power inside of us is not to be saved, it’s to be used. Used today. Used in our daily lives to show who he is. Through our words, thoughts, actions, and attitudes, we are a living podcast[1] to let people see him in us.
Power in motion – His glorious riches, his power is to actively motivate and empower us to choose for him today. The words we say are to be gracious and seasoned to be satisfying and attractive[2]. Our lives are to be filled with actions that are empowered for the glory of God and the good of people.
Yes, God’s Spirit comes in when we accept Christ[3]. He comes to permanently be at home inside of us. And when someone’s really at home with us, they can open the refrigerator without asking and take something out, even if it’s your iced tea. Someone who’s truly at home can sit in any chair, even if it’s your favorite spot.
Does God have that kind of “at home” relationship with you? Do you welcome him into any room? At any time? Do you require him to do things the way that you’re used to? Does he have to follow your schedule?
Can God change your way of life without you going nuts? Can he put you in new places? With new people? Places that you’re not comfortable in? People that are not exactly your kind of people?
There’s very little wiggle room when it comes to God being at home with us. He’s either at home, or he isn’t. He’s really welcome in any part of our life, or he’s not.
When he’s really at home, he’s got the run of the house. He can stand in front of the refrigerator of our life and just look. Look for as long as he wants. Pulling things out, and then putting them back the way he wants without us getting irritated and rearranging them back the way we want.
How at home is God in your life? How at home are you with God in your life? It’s a two-way street. He’s already made the first move. He’s totally restored our brokenness through the cross, dying for our selfish sins once and for all.
So, the ball is in our court. Will we sing the words of that great, old hymn?
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee[4].
Noodling Questions
What makes you uncomfortable with the idea of God being “at home” with you?
Where is God always welcomed? Sometimes welcomed? Never welcomed?
How upset do you get when God moves something in your house? Why?
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