JESUS IN YOUR HEART

JESUS IN YOUR HEART 

In his letter to the Christians in Ephesus, Paul writes: 

“For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and earth is named, that he may grant you, in accord with the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Eph3 :14-17)

In my humble opinion this is what every confessor should say to every penitent. A huge percentage of the faithful only think of Jesus with them, not inthem.  Paul, whom God blessed with the deepest insights, sets it straight for all to hear.  The trials that come with life on earth are so much easier to bear when one does not have to call on Jesus, but knows without doubt that Jesus is fully part of it all. 

It was truly Jesus’ intent when he said, “Behold, I am with you all days.”  Most of time, even when we mean well, our promises are hard to keep, because circumstances come in to play and the variables of life are unpredictable.  Not so with the promises of Jesus.  

There is no way to convey the wonder of the presence of Jesus within you to others, at least I haven’t found one, but you have to try.  The strength that you derive from his presence can see you through anything. Think of the people like Terry Waite who was imprisoned in Iran for years but never lost his faith and was not shy about sharing how Jesus kept him going. Consider Corrie Tenboom who was imprisoned in Ravensbruck concentration camp and watched her sister die, who came out of it preaching “There is no pit so deep, that He is not deeper still.”  Are they crazy? Skeptics say so, but others know better. I keep thinking of Mikey in the commercial for cereal whose brother kept saying “Try it, you’ll like it.”  I think that may be the answer.  Encourage people who are hurting, who are depressed, and who don’t know which way to turn, to try Jesus.  

Throughout Scripture, God keeps saying, “Don’t worry about what you are to say, I will be there with you.”  It’s scary, though.  I know a woman who is a manufacturer’s rep in groceries and whenever I see her in the store, I make a concerted effort to avoid her because she loves to talk gloom and doom religion. The devil is her favorite subject along with fear and retribution.   You know what I mean?  I can say without fear of contradiction that Jesus does not want you to do that.  He is all love and that is what he expects you to present. 

Remember to pray for the newly baptized.

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin OPA