Pearls of the Word

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That Christ may dwell in yours hearts

by Jean-Louis Coraboeuf

"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ... that He would grant you ... to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell [katoikeo] in your hearts through faith" (Ephesians 3:14-17).

The Greek word katoikeo means 'to stay', 'to live', 'to live as a settler', 'to rule', 'to be established as inhabitant'. We often ask God to visit us, but here the apostle Paul prays that Christ establishes Himself permanently in our hearts.

Thus, Christ wants 'to colonise' our inner being in order to establish His reign. Whomever He 'colonises', He brings to them His values, His character, His life, which will be so many factors of transformation of our whole being. Like Paul, we can then say, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20).