Knowing the One Who Lives in You
By Dawn Tolbert
“But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:17b
The closest relationships take time and interaction to grow.
I spent a lot of time with a close friend in college, but didn’t really know her until we became roommates. Being together in that small room week after week gave us time for long talks, shared laughter and tears, and to annoy one another occasionally. We dealt with simple things like dividing the phone bill and complex issues like the war that started while her fiancé was serving in the Navy. What began as friendship grew into something closer to sisterhood.
In the chapter today’s verse comes from, Jesus was telling His disciples about His coming crucifixion. He told them He would be going away and preparing a place for them. Then He said that the Helper, the Holy Spirit, would come. In this, Jesus was promising something unheard of—an intimate relationship with God. He would live with and reside in all who believed in Christ. He would be closer than any roommate. That’s a promise made to everyone who accepts Jesus as Savior and Lord.
The Holy Spirit dwells in us, providing an ever-present source of blessings. As we tune our hearts to Him, we become more Christ-like. We begin to exhibit love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control like never before. These “fruits” or works of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) grow inside us, allowing us to stand in the power of God’s presence.
Thank God today for the gift of the Holy Spirit and the comfort, guidance, power, peace, and joy that comes from an intimate relationship with Him.
Dawn Tolbert is a contributor to Wholly Loved Ministries Daily Devotional, a Christ-follower who writes to honor God, thank Him for His goodness, and encourage readers by sharing her faith journey. She works in higher education public relations and is writing her first novel and her first book-length Bible study. She has earned a B.A. in Communication Studies and English (Gardner-Webb College), a M.A. in Professional Writing (Kennesaw State University), and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership (Union University). She and her husband, Larry, live in Cedartown, Georgia, and serve actively in their church. Dawn blogs at dawntolbert.com.
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Originally published Thursday, 11 January 2024.
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