Love, the comfortable home

The topic this week seems to be "love". My friend Scott has reflected on it much, as he grieves the loss of his beloved wife. My sister Kami was sharing some things concerning love and pride in her blog too. My husband commented on how I was a good example of godly love. Although I was touched by the sentiment, I know too well, the wickedness of my own heart. It shames me.

In my ladies bible study we are studing Ephesians. In the third chapter Paul is praying for the believers, that God would grant them the ability to comprehend the love of God. God's love is truly the key to godly living. Paul says that we need to be rooted and grounded in love...that we would KNOW the love of Christ which passes knowledge... and this is tied to being filled up with all the fullness of God.

I can't really imagine being filled up with all the fullness of God. That Paul even dares to mention it as a tangible and practical reality blows my mind!!

I guess the key is in Christ dwelling in our hearts. Yes, at salvation He enters and He promises to never leave us or forsake us, but this dwelling is distinct from His entering. It carries the thought of comfortably abiding, not just tolerating or being polite, while feeling uncomfortable. Feeling at home!! When I try to imagine Christ feeling at ease in my heart, in my thoughts, in my heart attitudes, all I feel is ashamed.

Have you ever hung out with a couple that you felt so uncomfortable with? You are starting to enjoying the evening when all of a sudden there is a random topic,guesture, comment, something that sets one of the two into attack mode. You sit there feeling so embarrassed for them!! If you could melt and slither away you would. They eventually move on, but the undercurrent is still there. You never really feel at ease with that couple, because you never know when or what will spark and embarrassing situation. That is purely a selfish example, but I can imagine Jesus' indwelling in my life a bit like that. I can picture Him never wanting to "take off His shoes and relax" in my heart, because of the monsters of pride and selfishness just waiting for some opportune moment to jump out and rear their ugly heads.

How does your heart become a place where Christ is truly comfortable in? Of course it has something to do with our abiding in Christ. Meditating on His Word, knowing Him. Cultivating gratitude. Realizing our nothingness and His exceeding greatness. His immeasureable worth and my complete worthlessness. I don't think that His work of housecleaning my heart will ever be finished this side of heaven.