Art by Patrick Murphy

“Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it” (Gen. 28:16).

As we said before, the Lord revealed to Jacob that God was in His house. Bethel means, “House of God.” It shows Christ and His people as God’s dwelling, God’s house. The Lord is in us!

How often is it the case that the Lord is in us but, like Jacob, we do not know it. This is every believer’s experience. Moses didn’t know the Lord in the burning bush. Samuel didn’t recognize the Lord speaking in the tabernacle. Jesus was hidden in a manger. He was unknown to Israel and to God’s prophet–his own cousin, John–until the dove descended on Him. Peter didn’t know Him until the Father revealed Him. And Jesus scolded Phillip for asking to see the Father when the Father had been present in Jesus for three years! Mary didn’t know the risen Christ until He said her name. The disciples on the road to Emmaus didn’t know Jesus until He broke bread with them. And we, today, don’t know Jesus within unless the Spirit reveals Him.

Dear Jesus, open our eyes! We can’t afford not to see you are within but we can’t control the process either. You reveal yourself within when it pleases you! Let it please you now to reveal yourself in your people. Let us be *your* house, not the house of someone or something else’s glory.