Temples of the Holy Spirit
The Bible repeatedly points to the love God has for us. We recognize this love most dramatically through the sacrifice of Jesus. In today’s devotion we will study where the presence of God dwells, specifically as a result of Jesus’ work on the cross. Let’s open in prayer.
Lord, open my ears so that I hear Your personal love story for me through today’s devotional and Your word. Open my eyes to see Your work in my life’s story and Your blessings each day. Open my heart, Lord, to Your message of love so it will change my life and my eternity as a living temple for Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NLT)
16 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 17 God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
1 Corinthians 6:19 (NLT)
19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself…
From Genesis through Revelation, there is a consistent message that illustrates God’s love for His people, His incredible plan for our eternal salvation that culminated at the cross. We see this with the Old Testament instructions provided by God for the first tabernacle (Exodus 35-40) and then the temple (1 Kings 6). Extensive direction was provided for constructing these physical houses of God and for preparing the people who would enter them (Leviticus 21). Because of separation caused by human sin, casual contact with a sinless God was not possible; extreme measures needed to be followed in order for God to be in relationship with His people. Pause for a moment and think about your answers to these questions: How would you have felt living under these laws? How would living this way make your life look different today?
This all changed, though, with the sinless sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. This most extreme measure removed the separation caused by our sin and allowed God’s presence to live inside of us! How do you feel about that truth? As today’s scriptures point out, no longer is God’s presence limited to a tabernacle or temple; instead, God’s Holy Spirit lives in those who receive Him as their Lord and Savior. No longer are we bound to the restrictive rules of the Old Testament temple; today we are offered the free gift of salvation and the privilege of serving as temples of His Holy Spirit. God now lives in us! In fact, the last part of 1 Corinthians 6:19 points out that because of this fact, we no longer belong to ourselves but to Him. How does (or should) this truth impact your life?
It truly is a special, humbling, daunting privilege to be in a close, personal relationship with the omnipotent Creator of the universe. As we close out today, take a few minutes to talk with God. Feel free to use the prompts below to get you started.
Lord, I recognize that I am the temple of Your Holy Spirit. Help me…
Lord, reveal to me more and more the lengths You went to in order that I might be saved.
I hope you can rejoice in this day knowing it was crafted for you by our Lord.
Lord, open my ears so that I hear Your personal love story for me through today’s devotional and Your word. Open my eyes to see Your work in my life’s story and Your blessings each day. Open my heart, Lord, to Your message of love so it will change my life and my eternity as a living temple for Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NLT)
16 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 17 God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
1 Corinthians 6:19 (NLT)
19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself…
From Genesis through Revelation, there is a consistent message that illustrates God’s love for His people, His incredible plan for our eternal salvation that culminated at the cross. We see this with the Old Testament instructions provided by God for the first tabernacle (Exodus 35-40) and then the temple (1 Kings 6). Extensive direction was provided for constructing these physical houses of God and for preparing the people who would enter them (Leviticus 21). Because of separation caused by human sin, casual contact with a sinless God was not possible; extreme measures needed to be followed in order for God to be in relationship with His people. Pause for a moment and think about your answers to these questions: How would you have felt living under these laws? How would living this way make your life look different today?
This all changed, though, with the sinless sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. This most extreme measure removed the separation caused by our sin and allowed God’s presence to live inside of us! How do you feel about that truth? As today’s scriptures point out, no longer is God’s presence limited to a tabernacle or temple; instead, God’s Holy Spirit lives in those who receive Him as their Lord and Savior. No longer are we bound to the restrictive rules of the Old Testament temple; today we are offered the free gift of salvation and the privilege of serving as temples of His Holy Spirit. God now lives in us! In fact, the last part of 1 Corinthians 6:19 points out that because of this fact, we no longer belong to ourselves but to Him. How does (or should) this truth impact your life?
It truly is a special, humbling, daunting privilege to be in a close, personal relationship with the omnipotent Creator of the universe. As we close out today, take a few minutes to talk with God. Feel free to use the prompts below to get you started.
Lord, I recognize that I am the temple of Your Holy Spirit. Help me…
Lord, reveal to me more and more the lengths You went to in order that I might be saved.
I hope you can rejoice in this day knowing it was crafted for you by our Lord.
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