Ephesians 3:17a That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith

Abraham is the father of three faith based religions. They are Judaism, Islam and Christianity. How they differ is not so much the source of their faith but rather what they do with that faith.

Neither Judaism nor Islam invest their faith but rather rest on it. They will do what they feel they are commanded to do for religious duty with the expectation that all that happens depends on God to watch over their wellbeing. Neither believe that God should even dwell in man.

Christianity on the other hand invests their faith in Christ. Placing their faith in the works of the Cross of Christ and accepting that free will offering brings them to a position of right standing before God. Having dealt with sin judiciously God can then dwell with man.

The purpose of God dwelling within man is for God to exercise His grace, His will and His love through His children. Others will come to know Christ through the exercise of faith in us. We do not wait on faith we exercise faith.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Only Christ offers this by faith.

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

I consider myself to be one who has a spiritual appetite for strong meat. I enjoy going into the deep with my brothers in Christ of whom I have great respect and fruitful communion. So I was more than a little surprised when asked to digest some herbs of the spirit. It seemed such a small thing, it was not a big deal. What was surprising was that I found it distasteful. How can that be?

Joel 1:13 Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.

I did not offer this up to God as worship. I allowed pride to demand an answer without humbling myself before the source of all righteousness.

Exodus 11:8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.

I had forgotten the lessons of the bitter herb.

Exodus 11:11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord’s passover.

Do this in remembrance of Me, He said, and I had forgotten to honor from whom my joy comes.

It might seem like a small thing to many, but it burned in my heart and I had lost my peace. It was not a small thing to me.

Do not blame others for the bitter taste in your own mouth.