A Dwelling Place for God

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Scripture: Ephesians 2:20-22 (ESV)

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Devotion:

What is a temple? In the ancient world, a temple was a sacred place where people worshiped a deity and experienced his or her presence. A temple was also a symbol of the deity's sovereignty and glory, as well as the identity and unity of the people who belonged to him or her. A temple was not just a building; it was a reflection of the relationship between God and his people.

When Paul writes to the Ephesians, he uses the image of a temple to describe the church. He says that the church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, who proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ. He says that Christ himself is the cornerstone, the most important stone that holds the whole building together and gives it shape and direction. He says that in Christ, the whole structure, composed of Jews and Gentiles, is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. He says that in Christ, we also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

What does this mean for us today? It means that we are not just a random collection of individuals who happen to believe in Jesus. We are a living temple, a sacred community that exists to worship God and experience his presence. It means that we are a reflection of God's sovereignty and glory, a witness to the world of his grace and truth. It means that we are a manifestation of God's identity and unity, a family that shares his love and peace.

As a living temple, we need to remember that we are not built by our own efforts or achievements. We are built by God, who chose us and called us in Christ. We are built by the Spirit, who empowers us and transforms us into the likeness of Christ. We are built on the foundation of the gospel, which reveals the mystery of God's plan for the salvation of the world. We are built together with other believers, who are our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Prayer:

Let us therefore live as a living temple, honoring God with our words and deeds, seeking his presence and will, and loving one another as he loved us. Help us keep Jesus as the cornerstone of our lives. while each one will be different from the other, we are all beautiful in God’s sight. Let us be places of beauty, welcoming people to reach out to God. Amen. 

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