Easter causes me to sit and meditate on the grace and goodness of Jesus. I long for a stage of life where I can spend hours just sitting with Him, gazing into His lovely face. King David had this same longing which he penned in Psalm 27.
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. – Psalm 27:4
Can we, in our busy lives, take the time to dwell, gaze, and inquire? Is it possible?
Let’s take a closer look.
David says that he seeks to “dwell in the house of the LORD.”
Dwell – yashab – to remain, sit, abide, sit down, to stay, to be inhabited, to abide, to marry
Think about your own home for a moment. You furnish it, sleep in it, and live your life in it. You make it yours when you take up residence there, and hopefully, it provides you with a sense of relaxation, comfort, security, and peace.
David sought to dwell, sit, abide, and stay in the house of the LORD all the days of his life. The temple, or tabernacle as it was called in the Old Testament, served as a visual reminder of the presence of God for His people. God’s presence dwelled in the tabernacle, and David’s one desire was to abide, stay, sit, remain, take up residence in the place of God’s presence.
Just as David could not go to a place and remain in a building where God’s presence dwelled, it is not feasible for us to do so either. But what we can do is abide with Christ. In the moments of our days, in the midst of our to-dos, in the muck and mire of our circumstances, we can dwell with the Lord by practicing His presence, meditating on His attributes, remaining in a continual state of thanksgiving, and consciously focusing our thoughts on Him.
Take a look at these verses from John 15 about abiding in Christ and ask yourself the questions that follow.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
- Am I taking time to be still in Jesus’ presence?
- Do I abide as a way of life or in desperate times only?
- What or who am I depending on to accomplish the tasks I have?
- Am I experiencing the fullness of joy that is promised in verse 11?
