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YOU TOGETHER ARE GOD’S TEMPLE

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives among you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭NIV

In this letter, two times Paul mentioned the body as the Temple where God’s Spirit lives: 1 Cor 3:16, the body of believers (the church) and our physical body in 6:19.

The church, the body of Christ, the Temple of God is precious to God. It’s God’s dwelling place! Paul was referring to the people who have been redeemed by Jesus, and are called to follow Him, to be His people, His disciples and not the physical building.

Since Constantine, in the 4th century, until now, or even since King David time (1 Chro 22:1-5,14) people spent lots of fortune to care for the physical building! But how much resources (time, energy, thoughts, and wealth) have been used to nurture the people who together become the dwelling place of God’s Spirit?

Paul reminds us the body is sacred to God. How well have we been taking care of this body of believers? What can we do better? Have we been knowingly or unknowingly contribute to the destruction of this body! The Corinthians weaken the body with their quarrelsome and partisan spirit. Perhaps they loved themselves too much and failed to notice others, not even God! That’s why they failed to hear God’s voice!

Paul makes it clearer in Ephesians 2:21, “In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.”

Two things we need to be—

First, each of us need to be in Christ.

Second, to be joined togeher, encouraging and building each other up with Christ as the foundation! (1 Thes 5:11; Cf Phil 2:1-11)

A person or even a family alone won’t become God’s Temple. God’s temple is sacred, and you, people of God, together are that temple.

Who will you build up today within your community of believers? May His promise stay with you—“God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:8‬ ‭NIV

~plt180118

#pltwrites

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