Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Ephesians 3:14-17 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
THE INNER MAN
This "inner man" is the "new person" which is created inside us when we come to trust in Jesus as our Savior from sin. It is in this unseen "inner man" that the Holy Spirit works.
The idea of a "new man" being created inside us may sound a bit undesirable. I mean, who wants a stranger setting up housekeeping inside of him or her? But this "new man" isn't a stranger at all. He's the "I" that God intended you and me to be. Our "inner man" is more truly us than we've ever been. Our "inner man" is in step with God's will. Our "inner man" seeks to live the Father's Word. It is the "inner man" that Paul prays would be strengthened with might (see also Romans 7:21-25, Ephesians 4:20-24).
When we came to faith, our "new man" was born inside us. But he wasn't the only new resident in our hearts. For when we came to faith, Christ Himself moved in next door to the new man.
We might picture the both of them, the New Man and Christ, living side by side in the innermost part of our being, our "heart of hearts". Through faith they have come to dwell there, and as long as faith remains, so will they.
Paul prays for Christ to dwell in the hearts of the Ephesian Christians so that they might know Christ and His love more fully. When you have the same living quarters you have an opportunity know a person on a different level. That is what Christ wants for us. He knows us inside and out, and now He wants us to know Him inside and out. Through knowing Him more deeply we experience the joy of being part of His family.
