Do You Know Christ Lives in Your Heart?

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

Paul begins this portion of this letter by asking, “Do you not know?” It is a bit of an alarming question because the Corinthian Christians were probably almost eight years into their faith, yet he is asking them one of the most elementary of questions. “Do you not know that you are God’s temple?” Perhaps they had not been able to pick up on that fact even though Paul had taught on it before.

I want to ask that question of you. Do you really know that you are the temple of God? Are you confident? Is it settled in your heart? This God who dwells in an unapproachable light, so glorious, marvelous, wonderful, precious, loving, pure, and holy selected a place to live and it is in those whose hearts are humbled and contrite.

How does it impact you to know that this God of all creation lives in you? What does that do to all the problems and crises that you face in life? The trials and tribulation that you walk through? The sorrows of your life? The pain?

Christ lives in you, the manifest presence of God. The fire of God that led and directed the children of Israel has decided not just to go out in front of you, but he said, “Wait a minute! Catch up to me or I’ll come to you and dwell in you.” The pillar of fire, the cloud, the smoke — he lives inside of you now. The direction, the leadership, the potential, the power, the glory, the love, the fruit of the Spirit.

We need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us reference God in our lifestyle, in our worship experience, in our everyday walk with him.