Christ Dwelling in the Heart

Divine strengthening has firstly in view our being right inwardly—in our affections and apprehension as to Christ and the greatness and glory of which He is the centre: and secondly that we may be right outwardly—in our walk and life, now, at this very moment. This has been made known as the present thought of the living Head of the assembly for us; and this is the direction in which the Holy Spirit is working today.

We have seen that the purpose of God centres in our Lord Jesus Christ. He is now the Supreme One, the pre-eminent One. This place is His as man consequent upon His work of redeeming love at Calvary. He descended first to the lowest place: He has now ascended to the highest. He is Head over all things, and that in present and eternal relation to the assembly which is so precious to Him, so that every member becomes a necessity to Himself in this connection, as a cherished part of His body.

It is that He may dwell in our hearts through faith, that power, according to the riches of the Father’s glory, is granted to us; so that, being strengthened thus in “the inner man” by the Holy Spirit, and being established in love, vitally and characteristically, we may apprehend from the Centre, “with all the saints” the universal scene of His glory. This could only be possible to those whose faith and affection embraced Christ Himself, who is the centre of that wide range of radiant blessedness, and all those embraced in His love.

We must guard against an idea which is very common, namely, that Christ must reign as King in our hearts. It is not this that He desires, but TO DWELL in the hearts of those He loves so well. The two thoughts are widely different.

It is not the thought of His ruling or swaying us; but that He Himself, the loved Object of our hearts may dwell in them through faith; and that the love of Christ, the living love of the One who died for us, may be known to us as a present reality; though, being infinite like Himself, it necessarily remains a love that passes knowledge.

What tongue could tell the love of the One Who once gave Himself for the assembly, that she might be His own eternally, to enjoy with Him the universal heritage and the unfading felicities of redemption, and to be to God’s glory?

J.T.M.