16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 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)
This pearl of eternity is the church or temple of God within thee, the
consecrated place of divine worship, where alone thou canst worship God
in spirit and in truth. When once thou art well grounded in this inward
worship, thou wilt have learned to live unto God above time and place. For
every day will be Sunday to thee, and, wherever thou goest, thou wilt have
a priest, a church, and an altar along with thee. For when God has all that
He should have of thy heart, when thou art wholly given up to the obedience
of the light and spirit of God within thee, to will only in His will, to
love only in His love, to be wise only in His wisdom, then it is that
everything thou dost is as a song of praise, and the common business of thy
life is a conforming to God's will on earth as angels do in heaven.
Wm. Law (1868-1761) priest and theological writer*
Most often I have heard the "your body is a temple" verses preached as an admonishment to refrain from habits that damage our bodies- smoking, over eating, lack of exercise, etc. However, today's writing places those verses at a much higher level.
Our earthly temple still needs to be cared for in the physical realm, but it is so much more. Worship, prayer, study of Holy scripture, communinon with God all took place in the temple. The temple was where Jews would go to meet God, learn more about His word and receive cleansing from sin. It was in the temple that worshippers could escape the worries and fears of life. The temple was a place to lay one's burdens at the feed of God.
That temple is no longer a structure of bricks and mortar. That temple is each individual Christian. All of the relief, praise, wisdom and communion that used to take place withing the walls of a building can now occur within each Believer.
In the preChrist temple, the high priest would have to enter the Holy of Holies to commune with God on behalf of the people. That is still true today. But, Peter tells us that we, as Christians, are a royal priesthood. 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) Therefore we have direct access to God through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. We no longer need a human intercessor.
We do not have to seek out a place or priest. No alter of stone is needed. Lambs and calves for sacrifice are no longer necessary.
Christ is the ultimate sacrifice. He is the High Priest that intercedes for us. Our bodies are the temple, altar and Holy of Holies. Just as God dwelt in the Temple of the Jewish people, He still resides in the temple. But that temple is now the body of each believer.
Spend time today reflecting on the awesomeness of that reality!
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