1 Corinthians 3:16-17
This year we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of our country. A country that was founded on rights given from God and not to be restricted or taken by the government. In Washington DC, we have many monuments that celebrate various aspects of our history. In 2007, the Columbus Memorial Fountain was turned off and left in a state of filth and disrepair. It stayed that way until a recent restoration project was completed. This beautiful fountain had sat in filth and was a make-shift homeless encampment for the last 20 years. The fountain is now like new. Water is clean and flowing and the marble polished like new. The restoration has transformed the area into a place that draws people to enjoy the fountain and have a moment of peace and reflection before they continue their busy day.
Believers that regularly gather are the church family. Within our church family the Holy Spirit resides, guiding and leading us. As the Holy Spirit indwells with each believer, He also moves among each local church family. Notice in our passage that our church family is compared to being the temple of God. The imagery here is that we collectively are where God takes up residence. This at the minimum makes our gatherings very special. Verse 17: “For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” We as a church family are sacred to God and we should conduct ourselves in a way that honors God.
As we see the transformation of many of the fountains and monuments around DC getting a facelift, it makes me want to go and see them. I want to be impacted by the beauty and the history. This will draw people to celebrate and remember the events that inspired them to be built. This is the same for us; To build a unified, loving, gospel-centered church that draws people to God. That means we must clean up our act, making sure we are working out differences and divisions. That we are loving one another as Christ loved us. How can we reach the lost unbelievers if we cannot love our own church family? To draw the lost to Jesus we need to be like Jesus. This is ultimately how we “beautify” our church family. We need to remember that God expects the church to honor and glorify Him. We are ambassadors for the King; We need to make sure our representation is above reproach. Today look for ways to encourage other believers and fend fences that may be broken. Live holy and Christlike, honoring our King. If we do this, our church family will honor Jesus and draw people that are curious. Let’s be light to the darkness.
Believers that regularly gather are the church family. Within our church family the Holy Spirit resides, guiding and leading us. As the Holy Spirit indwells with each believer, He also moves among each local church family. Notice in our passage that our church family is compared to being the temple of God. The imagery here is that we collectively are where God takes up residence. This at the minimum makes our gatherings very special. Verse 17: “For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” We as a church family are sacred to God and we should conduct ourselves in a way that honors God.
As we see the transformation of many of the fountains and monuments around DC getting a facelift, it makes me want to go and see them. I want to be impacted by the beauty and the history. This will draw people to celebrate and remember the events that inspired them to be built. This is the same for us; To build a unified, loving, gospel-centered church that draws people to God. That means we must clean up our act, making sure we are working out differences and divisions. That we are loving one another as Christ loved us. How can we reach the lost unbelievers if we cannot love our own church family? To draw the lost to Jesus we need to be like Jesus. This is ultimately how we “beautify” our church family. We need to remember that God expects the church to honor and glorify Him. We are ambassadors for the King; We need to make sure our representation is above reproach. Today look for ways to encourage other believers and fend fences that may be broken. Live holy and Christlike, honoring our King. If we do this, our church family will honor Jesus and draw people that are curious. Let’s be light to the darkness.
Posted in Devotional