Christ Within

JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID TO HIM, “IF ANYONE LOVES ME, HE WILL KEEP MY WORD; AND MY FATHER WILL LOVE HIM, AND WE WILL COME TO HIM AND MAKE OUR ABODE WITH HIM.

John 14:23 (NASB)

Despite my age, I have easily recognized features to those who know my family – the more I age, the more I look like my father. The same is said of me and my son, poor lad – the Kearns look is dominant in the men of our family. Having said that, folk have recognized my mum in my character – she was a kind and gentle soul with everyone she met. Thus, we inherit looks and qualities from our parents.

Yet this principle is at work in our spiritual life, too: the wickedness that oozes out of those with a close affinity to the Devil. By contrast, there is the fragrance of Godly lovingkindness from Christian believers. By accepting the gift of redemption from sin, through Jesus Christ, we are adopted into the family of God. It is an awesome thought that the Triune God who created all things would save us and then adopt us! Our verse today goes further, Jesus says, “and We will come to Him and make Our abode with him.” The Triune God dwells within His redeemed children. Pause and think about that for a moment.

Dear Reader, do you bear the family resemblance of Christ in your life each day? Is God at work in you, for His will and pleasure (Philippians 2:13)? I remember the night I gave my life to Jesus, my Lord, and Saviour; the song in my heart and on my lips was “it is no longer I that liveth, but Christ who lives within me.” That is still my song thirty years later; I pray that it is your song too.