The Bible uses the word "dwell" more often than you or I do, I suspect. For instance, in the ESV there are 290 times it's used. The NAS has 154 times. I think I've used the word ... well ... I can't remember. What is "dwell"? The Greek word is to inhabit a house. The Hebrew refers to a lodging. Okay ... pretty simple, then. A place to live. What does the Bible have to say about ... where to live?
Obviously we're not talking about a geographical place. No. We read, for instance, "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (Col 3:16). We ought to make ourselves a place for the "word of Christ" to live. (Interesting that this text suggests we do it in our conversations with each other and especially with music.) In Philippians, Paul lists all sorts of "positives" -- true, right, lovely, worthy of praise, etc. ... followed with the instruction, "dwell on these things" (Php 4:8). Live there, with your mind washed in God's "good." In Job, you'll find, "If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and do not let wickedness dwell in your tents" (Job 11:14). Evil should not find a place to live in you. James says, "Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: 'He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us'?" (James 4:5). The Spirit should find in us a suitable place to live. All these, and more.
Paste it together and you find an interesting composite built on the concept of what kind of habitation you will be. Spirit-filled, free of evil, saturated in Scripture, positive ... we ought to be people living in this. We ought to be habitable places for all that God intends for us. It kind of changes the sense of the phrase, "Get your house in order."
3 comments:
The first thought that came to my mind when reading your scripture quotes about “dwelling” was the indwelling of the Holy Spirit--God living in me (1 Cor. 3:16). Through His presence in my heart, there will be a nourishing base for God’s Word to take root in my life and to produce the fruit of the Spirit. Not only “get your house in order” but my garden as well. “Spirit-filled, free of evil, saturated in Scripture, positive”--that is a wonderful way to live…and to grow. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psa. 23:6).
Absolutely. The indwelling of the Spirit is clearly one thing we need to pursue.
My first thought was of the vine/branch example we see in John. I think that the dwell piece and the branch piece both indicate a direct and vital sense of being connected to Christ permanently.
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