Friday, July 22, 2011
Dedicating the Temple
Whenever I read of the Old Testament tabernacle or temple, I look for analogies to the New Testament temple. So, as I read today of Solomon's dedication of the temple (2 Chronicles 5-7), I realized again that every day should be temple dedication. We are the temple, specifically, our bodies are the temple of the Lord. Because I belong to Jesus, I am that place where His Spirit dwells! Check out how Paul addresses this truth:
"Your bodies are members of Christ Himself ... Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19).
Do you remember when Jesus "cleansed" the temple (found in all four of the Gospels)? I wonder how they could have ever let it get into that condition. I believe that it was because they just got careless. Perhaps they just reasoned that this is what all the other temples did in that culture. But it's clear that what began on the outside of the temple, eventually made it's way into the temple courts. The lesson for you and me? We must be vigilant about what goes on in this place. That means being careful with what we watch, what we read, or what we listen to. The world's standards aren't good enough for you and me.
Let me make this personal today: I must not be careless with this temple where a holy God lives. When I defile the temple or degrade it in any way, I should not be surprised that I suffer the consequences. This is what Solomon anticipates (and God predicts). And we've all felt the effects of our carelessness. The good news? It's found in God's response to Solomon's prayer....
12Then the LORD appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time (2 Chronicles 7:12-16)."
The bottom line: If I have dedicated myself to God, then I am not my own. If I have defiled the temple, I need to confess my sin and ask Jesus to forgive and cleanse me (1 John 1:9). Because of Jesus, I am bought with a price and dedicated to Him. I am the property of God. Now I need to live like it.
"Your bodies are members of Christ Himself ... Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19).
Let me make this personal today: I must not be careless with this temple where a holy God lives. When I defile the temple or degrade it in any way, I should not be surprised that I suffer the consequences. This is what Solomon anticipates (and God predicts). And we've all felt the effects of our carelessness. The good news? It's found in God's response to Solomon's prayer....
12Then the LORD appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time (2 Chronicles 7:12-16)."
The bottom line: If I have dedicated myself to God, then I am not my own. If I have defiled the temple, I need to confess my sin and ask Jesus to forgive and cleanse me (1 John 1:9). Because of Jesus, I am bought with a price and dedicated to Him. I am the property of God. Now I need to live like it.
Labels: dedication, holiness, temple
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