FAITH CAPSULE: Dwelling in God is to know God.

1 John 3

Do you desire to dwell in the presence of the Lord? If you are one with desires to dwell in His presence there is a need to amend your ways and your doings. One who is able to amend his/her way will walk in the knowledge of His will. In Colossians 1:9-11 Paul prayed, “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.” Paul’s prayer is worth of constant meditation for all that desire to dwell in the presence of God. Walking in the word of God is doing the will of God. To know God is to be in Him and Him in you.
Having been in the church for long or having the ability to memorize and be conversant in quoting the word is not an evidence of knowing God. Many know about God but do not know God. It is written, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.” (1 John 2:3) Talking about the commandment of God is not an evidence of knowing God but keeping His commandment is the evidence of knowing Him. Many talks about the commandments of God but few are demonstrating the life of one who keeps His commandments. 1 John 2:4-6, “He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” The word of God is true. God does not lie, and He will not look away from the manifestation of His word. In this world of challenge there is no better place to abide but in the word of God. Determination is not what will make man to dwell in the word. Peter determined not to deny Jesus, but he eventually denied Christ three times. It was the prayer of Jesus that uphold Peter to become a victim of denying Christ. Jesus’ prayer that kept Peter was recorded: “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 22:32) When there is desire to dwell in God, God will deposit what it takes to dwell in Him. Word buttressed, “Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in Him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” (1 John 3:24)

Prayer for today: Ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.