Psalm 147:12-20, 1 Chronicles 28:1-10, 1 Corinthians 3:10-17
“[God] has not this for every nation; they do not know his judgments…”
Psalm 147:20
“Realize now that the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong and do it.”
1 Chronicles 28:10
“If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and that is what you are.”
1 Corinthians 3:10-17
Israel was chosen. From the time of Abraham, its call was to bless the world. There was a time when it seemed that all was fulfilled. Solomon had been chosen as king, and had been chosen to build the Temple. Solomon knew what his tasks and paths were. Yet, he wandered off. Israel, through Jesus, ultimately fulfilled God’s promise to bless the world, but not without many generations failing and paying the price of not following God.
Each of us has been chosen for a task. If we have been blessed (especially with discernment), we may know what task God has chosen for us. Otherwise, we could be blessed with people who know us, and are able to guide us onto God’s chosen path. Then there is the most frustrating path of all: doing your best, and not knowing if that is God’s path for you.
Paul does provide some guidance for us, if we are able to accept it. Our path is to be God’s holy temple here on earth. All of us. “Wait,” you may say, “how can I be a holy temple?” Let God build the temple inside of you. “Wait,” you may say, “what am I supposed to do?” That’s the rub, isn’t it. Do? Let God build the temple inside of you. Do? Let God build the temple inside of you, while the world attempts to destroy it from the outside-in.
Do? Be strong.
1) Why do we often feel inadequate unless we are “doing”?
2) In light of God building the temple inside of you, how do you now hear, “be still and know that I am God”?
3) In what new way can you be strong to allow the building of God’s temple inside of you?
KD) If God’s temple inside of you was an actual building, what would it look like?