The Uniqueness of Indwelling

As you read this, I will be leading a prayer team in a major North American city. Among other places visited, we will tour an Islamic Mosque, A Hindu Center, A Sikh Temple, and a Buddhist Temple. We will listen patiently and respectfully as their leaders tell us of their beliefs. Then we will move to the parking lot, get in our van, and pray. We will pray to the only Founder of a religion that claims its Founder lives in those who believe. In fact, this is one of the unique features of the Christian faith – “Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you” (2 Corinthians 13:5)? In a similar way that sap indwells the branch, producing fruit and blood indwells the body, manifesting itself in life, so our Lord indwells those who believe, reproducing Godly attributes in them. He has not always indwelled us. We had to invite Him in. We did not have to make a sacred pilgrimage, sacrifice another life, or vow to carry a weapon on our body at all times. Convicted of sin and with a repentant spirit, we simply had to invite the Lord in to our lives and He began to indwell us. Rejoice with me this week for our indwelling Lord.

And join me in talking with Him about these global concerns:
• Hundreds of student summer missionaries who will soon leave their summer assignments and return to their campuses, never to be the same again.
• Lawrence and Sarah in their English outreach classes for workers in Macau.
• A family serving in India as they follow up on new adult friends whose children attended their child’s birthday party.
• Ed, whose wife unexpectedly passed away last week at the age of 49 while they were serving in Russia.