The Permanent Guests
“If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him” (John 14:23). Fall 2025 Communion Season
“Our abode.” The soul that once kept Christ outside, by grace becomes His dwelling. There is a quiet miracle hidden in this promise.
Nervous, we think He comes like a house inspector, but He comes as a Friend to help. He sits at the table of the heart, no longer knocking, but planning, doing. The believer feels the difference. There is a peaceableness now, a holy joy in the heart.
Dear ones, the Lord’s Supper is a Presence, receive it.
Sometimes in the stillness after the sermon, sometimes in the tears of a psalm, sometimes in a single blessing remembered in the Table call. The Spirit breathes his arrival in the bread and wine.
The Spirit teaches us new manners in this abode: to keep the rooms swept with repentance, to set the table daily with prayer, garnished with the fruit of the Spirit, listening for His voice moving from room to room.
The wonder is this: we, who would never go to Him, are met by Him who comes to us, and abides.
O Christ, make Thyself at home in this heart that so often wanders.
Let every thought be a lamp kept burning for Thee.
Oh gentle Saviour come and dwell with me. May thy presence bring the light of joy to my heart and open up the secret areas that reveal my true self to me and to Thee. Then change me at Thy will as You see fit
Thank you for this verse and reflection. The Lord is truly the Dweller and we are His dwelling place as Ephesians 2:22 and 3:17 confirm. Lord Jesus, make Your home in my heart.
Have you ever considered that the Greek word for abode in this verse is the same Greek word that is often translated “mansions” in John 14:2? Do you think the Lord would be building one abode in us and another one in the heavens? Wouldn’t it be more logical to think that His abode in us will be gradually enlarged to become our abode in Him, even a mutual abode of God and man. This is further developed in John chapter 15 which speaks of the Lord being the vine and we being the branches and His exhortation for us to abide in Him and He abiding in us (John 15:1, 4, 5). The word, abide is also the verb form of the Greek word for abode in John 14:1 and verse 23. If you can get access to the footnotes in the Recovery Version Bible, this is expounded in such an enlightening and wonderful way. A New Testament Recovery Version is freely available to order from BiblesforAmerica.org