Dwell in Your Hearts

Date: February 7, 2023

I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional. 

B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Word and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study and savor
S - Summarize and Share

You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?

Bible Scripture Verse – Ephesians 3:17

"So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,"

Listen for God’s Voice

Heavenly Father, I ask for your guidance and wisdom as I seek to understand and cherish the words written in Ephesians 3:17. Help me to open my heart and allow Christ to dwell within me through faith. May I be rooted and established in love, as I strive to learn and grow in your word. Amen.

Explore History – Who wrote it, when and to what audience? Key people in the story?

This scripture is part of the letter of Ephesians, which is attributed to Paul in the first century AD. It was written to the early Christian community of Ephasus, most likely when Paul was imprisoned in Rome, around 60-62 AD.

The letter of Ephesians is considered a "captivity letter," meaning it was written while Paul was under arrest. They were written to encourage and instruct the early Christian communities in their faith during difficult times. 

Ephesians 3:17 is a portion of a larger prayer that Paul writes in chapter 3, where he prays that the Ephesians will understand the depth and width of the love of Christ and how it can be applied in their lives. He wants them to be rooted and established in love, so that Christ may dwell in their hearts and they can grow in their faith.

Study and Savor – Key Words

Summarize and Share

"Christ" - Refers to Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity and the Son of God. In this scripture, Paul is praying that the Ephesians will allow Christ to dwell in their hearts through faith.

"dwell" - To reside or live in a particular place. In this scripture, Paul is praying that Christ will reside in the hearts of the Ephesians.

"faith" - Trust or belief in something or someone, often referring to religious belief in this context. In this scripture, Paul is praying that the Ephesians will have faith in Christ, allowing him to dwell in their hearts.

"established" - Firmly established, settled, or fixed in a particular position. In this scripture, Paul is praying that the Ephesians will be firmly established in love, so that Christ can dwell in their hearts.

Bible Cross Reference

Colossians 1:27 - "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Romans 8:9-10 - "You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness."

John 14:23 - "Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”

Those scriptures also talk about how Christ dwells in us, the hope of glory, the life of faith that is possible when Christ is in us and the obedience of loving Jesus and having him reside in us.