God is in You

Recently in my own bible study I was struck by a simple fact: God lives within me. It was one of those things that I knew and had been taught for a long while but the real meaning of this only struck me a few days ago.

So really, what does it mean for you that God dwells within you? That was the question I asked myself, and I hope to share my thoughts with you.

Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you...? (1 Corinthians 6:19)

God dwells within those whom He calls His children....He dwells within. What a great comfort that is!

God was with Abraham in the Old Testament; He called Abraham his friend (James 2:23). God dwelt with Abraham, however, since the out pouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, God lives within His children. Isn't that so much greater?

Christ's Spirit is within you, He understands what you are going through, and He is there within you every step of the way. You never have to be afraid that God will leave, or that where you go He will not come. For God has made a promise to us that He will never leave us. In Matthew 28:20, before Jesus ascended into heaven He said: lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. And how is Christ with us? Through His Holy Spirit that dwells within us.

The words from Psalm 139 also apply in this context. The psalmist says:

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there; 
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning, 
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 
Even there Your hand shall lead me, 
And Your right hand shall hold me.  (vs 7-10)

God will ALWAYS be there.

What a great comfort this is: that in whatever situation you may find yourself in God promises to be there with you, to help you and to comfort you.

Am I content?

How often are we just content? Think about it for a moment. How often are you thankful and happy for the present life you have? How often are you satisfied with the things that God in His wisdom has given us?

Or should we be asking ourselves these questions: How often do I wish for new things? A new car? New clothes? A new house? A new job? A new physique? A new toy? A new hairstyle? A new phone? A new TV? How is it that we always want new things, as if what we already have is just not good enough?

Yes, sometimes we do need new things, but more often then not we would be more than fine without getting that 'new thing'.

The apostle Paul says in his letter to Timothy: Godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Tim 6:6) The world seeks 'new things' it always wants more, it is never satisfied. And living in a modernised world we are encouraged by it to live with this 'never satisfied' approach to life. But Paul strictly tells us, that such as life is not for the Christian. A truly godly person must not be interested in getting the biggest and the best in life, for he possess a much greater treasure that earthly resources cannot buy. Real contentment is a mind at peace with God. (Michael Bently)

Earlier in 1 Tim 4:8 Paul tells us that bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things. Contentment is born from godliness. If you walk in godliness and lay up for yourself treasure in heaven, then you will be content. A true humble Christian knows that material possessions are like fleeting pleasures; they cannot satisfy the soul. Instead, a believer's contentment comes from knowing and doing God's will. (MB)

This is not to say that believers must live simple lives as if having more possessions is because they are not content. For Paul says in Phil 4: I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. He says he knows how to abound and to suffer need, yet in all situations he is content. And that is the key. We must be content in whatever situation God has placed us in.

Find peace and contentment in God, and He promises to grant you all that you have need.