“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
– 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20
The temple was the center of religious life for the Jews, because it’s where the Spirit of God lived. From the time of Moses, the Lord’s people always had a place in their midst where Jehovah stayed and made Himself at home. This began with the tabernacle, which was a moving temple that could be set up as the Israelites traveled from place to place. The tabernacle included all sorts of encroutements that signified various facets of God’s character while delineating different levels of access to His Presence. At the center of this sacred place was the Ark of the Covenant, which symbolized the Lord’s throne, and the closer you got to it, the more respect, fear, and admiration you had to show as you approached. Years after the Israelites entered the Promised Land, King Solomon built a permanent temple for God’s people that had many characteristics of the tabernacle but was fixed. In essence, this structure became the Jew’s solitary house of worship. Unfortunately, the original temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, but it was rebuilt years later with even greater splendor and grandeur. No expense was spared because this sacred place housed the very presence of Jehovah, and the closer you got to the Holy of Holies, the closer you were to the Lord Himself. Fascinatingly, the moment Jesus gave up His Spirit to death, the veil in the temple that separated the Most Holy Place from the rest of the people was torn in half from top to bottom. In other words, the Spirit of the Lord left that isolated room and took up residence throughout the world. How? He moved into the bodies of the followers of Christ, where he remains today! Friend, you are the sacred dwelling place of a holy and powerful God. He lives and moves in you as He sits on the throne of your heart. When you allow Him to reign in your spirit, mind, and body, you shine gloriously, just like the ancient temple did. Though it’s easy to overlook the privilege of housing the Lord of the Universe within you, I encourage you to welcome Him every day and watch as He displays His power and radiance through your life! |
Prayer
Jesus, I ask that you would be at home in the temple of my life and shine your glory from all the parts of my being.
Reflection
How does it impact you to know that the Holy Spirit dwells in the temple of your body? Do you allow Him to reign on the throne of your heart?
