I suspect, at one time or another, we’ve all had the experience of being invited to someone’s place where we didn’t feel entirely at home.

They greeted us at the door: “Welcome! Just come in and make yourself right at home.” That’s what they say – but they would think it strange if, walking by their fridge, you opened the door and looked in or walking by the cupboards, you opened one and reached up for a few salted almonds.

Usually, when we are greeted with a warm welcome, we are then graciously guided or steered to the living room, and we are invited to sit down in the fancy vintage Queen Anne, newly upholstered wingback chair. All prim and proper, you sit there quietly, wondering what’s next. With exceptional interest, you — ever-so-carefully — turn over the pages of the colourful oversized coffee-table picture book – strategically placed to catch your eye. It’s there to entertain you or keep you unbored and quiet until your host is ready for whatever is next.

“Feeling right at home,” is the goal of your host, of course! You try to make yourself look like you are thoroughly relaxed and enjoying every minute on the Queen Anne Chair.

By the way, the Apostle Paul prayed for the spiritual well-being of Christians, desiring that Christ would feel right at home in their hearts.

Not wanting to be overly nosey, you sneak a few glances at the wall pictures. You try to cough professionally, and you desperately try to stifle your sneeze. Quietly you wait, politely answering occasional questions from the other room.

And then you get the call to the Dining Room. Pleasantly smiling, you stand near the table, waiting to be seated. Trying to look relaxed, you are anything but relaxed and at ease. Then with great poise, you gracefully take your seat and then, with hands folded, you wait for further instructions.

There’s no question about your being there; the question is: do you really feel at home?

In Ephesians 3, the Apostle Paul uses vivid imagery to describe Christ’s place and prominence in our lives. His prayer for the Christians in Ephesus goes like this:

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,  (15)  from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,  (16)  that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  (17)  so that Christ may dwell [or, feel right at home] in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  (18)  may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,  (19)  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19

Is my heart in the condition where Christ is totally at home and at ease inside – comfortable with everything He is seeing and hearing?

When your host warmly greeted you with: “Welcome. Come right in. Just make yourself at home. What’s ours is yours – we are so delighted to have you here…” – yes, very kind words indeed – but did they really mean that – like, totally?

Paul was writing believers who already had Christ in their lives. Paul called them ‘saints’ in Ephesians 1:1. The moment we trusted Christ, He came in to stay forever. But Paul isn’t talking about the ‘presence’ of Christ in our lives; he’s going much deeper than that! It’s one thing for Him to be inside, but does He feel ‘at home’ inside? That’s the thought behind Christ ‘dwelling’ in our hearts. Feeling at home, relaxed and fully accepted in our hearts.

Do I keep Christ confined to certain rooms in my life?

Oh yes, I may have a ritzy, luxurious, beautifully adorned Five Star guest bedroom with rich walnut furniture and a spacious marbled ensuite at the opposite end of my house – where all is quiet and private. “Guests prefer that,” I say.  But, in reality, so do I! Sometimes we’re more concerned about their intrusion into our personal space than ours into theirs.

Do I keep Christ entertained with a coffee-table ‘display’ book as He sits on the fancy antique Queen Anne reupholstered wingback chair in the living room of my life? Or, is He free to roam up and down the hallways of my heart and visit all the other rooms in my life? Can He sit on any chair – or just that wingback chair?

Can He look at anything – or should He only look at the one book? Can I completely relax as He sits at my computer and clicks on the history tab of the sites I’ve visited?

What about you? Can you relax as He stands over your shoulder and watches your online interactions? Or would that make you nervous or be a bit restrictive?  Are there some rooms in your life you would rather keep closed to visitors – especially Him?

Paul is writing to the believers about living a powerful and victorious Christian life. He’s just not talking about the ‘presence’ of Christ in our lives; He’s talking about the ‘prominence’ of Christ in our lives. Perhaps the more accurate word is the ‘preeminence’ of Christ in our lives. If I want to experience the power and riches of Christ in all its fullness, I must allow Him to get up off the wingback chair and give Him full access, anytime and all the time to every room in my life.

What is the outcome when I give Him full access to everything – when He really feels at home in my heart?

Reread those verses again in Ephesians Chapter 3.

• When He is feeling totally at home – we’ll be solidly rooted (agricultural term) and built up – (architectural term) – if ever there was a day when we need that solid rooting and the sound structure of Christian living to withstand the spiritual storms – it is today.
• When we embrace Him in our hearts as One who has access to every corner of our lives, our ability to grasp and comprehend and appreciate the dimensions of the magnitude of our God will be enhanced.
• The outcome will also mean that we will be absorbed by the love of Christ and the fullness of God …. Whatever those beautiful terms may mean in all their depths.

Do you think Christ is feeling ‘at home’ in your heart at this point in your life? That’s what He desires. That’s what He deserves. That’s what He requires if we are going to experience the power and joy of Christian living.

Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.

Warmly in Christ,

Peter Ramsay

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