I in them…

“I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in me”
(John 17:23 KJV).

The Spirit becomes a personal possession — personal to each believer. This could never be true of a relationship to Jesus. He was an historical person, who was born, lived, spoke, wrought, moved about, in places definitely capable of designation.

If a person were in the place where He was, he might enjoy His presence; otherwise he was deprived of it. The Apostles were chosen to be “with Him.” To respond to His call, that they might hear His teaching, see His mighty works, come to know Him, be His witnesses, they must needs leave their homes and occupation and become itinerant with Him. Only some artificial, monkish mode of life could continuously adapt itself to such conditions.

But the Spirit does not call us to be with Him; He comes to be “with us.” Wherever we live our lives, there He is, adapting Himself to the circumstances surrounding His beloved. Hence there is no Mecca for the Christian faith, no sacred shrine, no foregathering to find Him whom believers worship and serve.

Though they be scattered to the ends of the earth, He is with them, dwelling in them, walking in them — the living Christ by His Spirit their intimate, personal possession.

But this indwelling Spirit, one with our spirit, is more than a presence with us. He is a molding, transforming power. To the end of Jesus’ ministry, taught of Him though they were, His followers, even His intimates, remained unstable, cowardly and undependable: His was but an influence without.

When, however, the Spirit was come, these same men became at once the embodiment of fidelity, courage and conviction. True, Jesus had left them, but His Spirit within made them as new men. So does He desire to work in every believer.

All self-effort toward transformation of character is futile. The vile pictures hung upon the walls of memory by indulgence in illicit imaginations, in obscenity, in evil habits; the remorse that lingers from animosities, jealousies, ugly self-seekings — how have men sought in vain to purge their souls of these; how many suicides tell the tale of hopeless effort to be free from their relentless lashings.

No, it is only the Holy Spirit of God who, coming into the life, can impart purity of mind and holiness of heart where sin had wrought its havoc. To set sin’s captive free — this He has power to do; this He delights to do.