THE HOLY SPIRIT AND CHRIST'S INDWELLING

"That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3:16-19)

Devotion 7 of 16

THE RICHES OF HIS GLORY
". . . according to the riches of His glory . . . "

The "riches of His glory" refer to the opulent resources that are found in the Presence of the Lord. His "glory" is the manifestation, or revelation, of His Presence. It is what emanates from His presence or more precisely, from the cognizance of His Presence. The particular emphasis of this text is the awareness brought to the heart by faith. That consciousness is elsewhere called "the knowledge of God" (1 Cor 15:34; 2 Cor 10:5; Col 1:10; 2 Pet 1:2), "the knowledge of Him" (2 Pet 1:3), and "the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet 2:20). This personal affiliation with the Almighty is good soil.

The "knowledge of God" is a covenantal benefit in which all of the saved participate. As it is written, "they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them" (Jer 31:34; Heb 8:11). This "knowledge," or personal involvement and acquaintance with God and Christ, is nothing less than eternal life. As it is written, "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 17:3, NKJV). And again, "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life" (1 John 5:20). Eternal life, then, is not something impersonal, but is a vital association with the Living God Himself.

The "riches of His glory" are uncovered in this intimacy with the Living God. It is then, as He becomes dominant in our thoughts, that we become more aware of Who He is. It is in that sweet fellowship that the "riches" become accessible to the believer. As this world recedes into the shadows because of the more excellent glory, God Himself is seen as our Resource. He does not merely place some spiritual trinkets within our reach, but offers Himself as the Repository of everything we need.

The "grant" of which we speak will be given within the framework of familiarity with God through Jesus Christ. The blessing will be conferred within the circumference of Divine fellowship. Let there be no mistake about the sufficiency of Divine glory. "God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:19). What is more, the Lord is favorably inclined to make these riches available, having raised up Apostles to make them known. As it is written, "And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory" (Rom 9:23).

What follows, therefore, is a spiritual experience proceeding from intimate involvement with God. That experience is granted in strict accord with the Nature of God, and in harmony with His "eternal purpose." There will be no advance in the faith without this involvement.

PRAYER POINT: Father, with Moses I cry out in Jesus' name, "Show me Your glory!"

-- Tomorrow: WHY COME TOGETHER? --