Tuesday, July 24, 2012

A Temple of God (2 Cor. 3:16-17)

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.
(2 Corinthians 3:16-17, NASB)

I read these verses, and I’m humbled and encouraged … and convicted.

I’m humbled to think that the God of the universe wants to “dwell” in me. That He sees me as worthy enough to inhabit. That He sees me as holy.

It’s a mystery beyond my comprehension: God—Father, Son, and Spirit—loves me so much that He wants to commune with me. He wants to hear my voice. He wants to speak to my heart. He wants to fulfill His purpose in me.

He wants to live in me.

I’m encouraged that I’m not alone in this journey. I know God will grant me the strength I need to make it through the difficult days—and there have been more of those than not lately. I know the Spirit will help me make right decisions.

As He lives in me.

I’m convicted that I don’t care for this “temple” as I should. I don’t keep the “rooms” as clean as they might be as I sometimes fill them with thoughts of this world. I don’t keep it as strong as I should when I don’t exercise or when I don’t eat well.

I am holy in my Father’s eyes, and His Spirit chooses to reside in me. I need to honor that choice by filling my heart and mind with those things that are good and right and pure (see Philippians 4:8). I need to stay as strong as possible to do that God has called me to do.

And I need to care for this temple … the home of the Spirit of God.

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