We have already talked about the importance of the first word in Scripture: the word "In".  We discovered that the Hebrew word "In" was originally a picture:

It represents the home, with the emphasis being placed on what is "inside" of the home.  Now let's continue to look at how the spiritual principle of "that which is inside" applies to our daily walk with Christ.

Several years ago I was praying and asking God to help me become a more mature Christian.  Although part of me really wanted to mature, I had a serious problem.  There were things in my heart that I really didn't want to surrender to Christ.  I knew maturing in Christ meant giving up some things I'd been hanging on to, things that I knew were wrong, but things that I enjoyed.  As I argued with the Lord, offering my "opinion" and justifying why it was ok for me to do what I wanted to do, I began to realize something:

Broken and speechless, I began to repent.  God instantly removed every argument I put forth.  Any justification I could ever conceive had just been crushed.  I was ashamed of my pride and feeble attempt to outwit my Lord and Savior.  I was silenced as the Holy Spirit revealed to me the meaning of Matthew 7:24:

"Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."

God didn't create us to argue or debate with Him.  He created us to hear His word and put it into practice.  While I had been offering my "opinion," it was the offering of submission that God was seeking.  I realized that salvation is far more than asking Christ to live in our hearts; it is letting go of our life and putting it all into His Hands.  As I asked the Lord for forgiveness He led me to Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:16-17:

"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."

As I meditated on this prayer I discovered that the word "dwell" is the Greek word katoikeō and means, "to be at home, to be made comfortable."  So, how do we make Christ feel comfortable and at home?  The same way we'd make a friend feel at home? 

If a close friend were coming for a visit to our home we would prepare the guest room, clean the house, make sure there was plenty of food, etc.  We would do everything in our power to make our friend feel comfortable and at home during their stay.  We would even say something along the lines of, "Please feel free to make yourself at home."

Now, if we would do this for a friend, should we not do it all the more for Christ?  Of course we should.  Let us remove anything that would cause Christ to feel uncomfortable as He lives within our heart, whether it's the things we say or do, what we watch, the music we listen to, the things we read, etc.  If it keeps Christ from feeling at home, let it be removed.  But let us not stop here.  What Christ desires for us is much greater.  Hebrews 3:6 tells us:

"But Christ is faithful as a Son over God's house.  And we are His house..."

You see, Christ desires far more than to simply come and live in our heart.  It is true that He wants to be at home in us, but He seeks more than the guest room, He wants to be the owner of our house; that is, the Master of our heart.  As Paul says in Galatians 2:20:

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me."

You see, in addition to "dwell" meaning, "to be at home with or comfortable," it also means "to take up permanent residence."  When the Bible speaks of Christ living in us, it means more than Christ coming for an occasional visit; it means He wants to own our home.

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