Jesus once said, “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, … on earth as it is in heaven’” (Matthew 6:9-10). God’s kingdom is where He lives, His home. God’s kingdom is defined by the presence of God. In instructing us to pray for God’s kingdom on earth, Jesus is calling us to pray for God’s Spirit to live on earth as He does in heaven.

Yet when it comes to many churches, God isn’t home. The Holy Spirit is missing from many churches and the lives of their members. Just look at all the disunity, the lack of fruit—as evidenced by the ever-decreasing population of churchgoing Christians—and the lack of understanding and truth. But, why is the Spirit missing? Since answers aren’t necessary in my search for true Christianity, I’ll resist stepping into that quagmire … for now anyway.

Now consider this bit of insight from Andrew Murray:

“Look in your heart, and your heart will find its Savior, its God. If you see and feel nothing of God, it is because you seek Him in books, in church, in outward religious exercises. You will not find Him there until you have first found Him in your heart. Seek Him in your heart, and you will never seek in vain, for He dwells there in His Holy Spirit.” ¹

Yes, Murray did say that church isn’t the place to look for God. That’s because God’s earthly home, His kingdom on earth, is where His Holy Spirit lives, within the hearts of those who believe and receive Him. Recall that Jesus said: “My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them” (John 14:23).

1. Andrew Murray, Andrew Murray Devotional, (New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House), © 2006, devotional for December 24.

(Excerpt from “Beneath the Graffiti: A De-churched Christian’s Search for Christianity.”)

https://www.amazon.com/Beneath-Graffiti-churched-Christians-Christianity-ebook/dp/B0DK7VD71B