A man known as the “king of cocaine” built an island hideaway known to the locals as the big house. It featured a marble lobby and an enormous pool ringed by palm trees. The now-deceased man’s estate included multiple waterfront dwellings where 300 guests could lodge in luxury. Gardens, boats, and a helicopter landing pad all displayed the “king’s” immense but wrongly amassed wealth.
God’s dwelling place inside Solomon’s temple was rightfully fit for a king, and it wasn’t showy for the sake of impressing people. It was located at the far end of the temple and it had no windows (1 Kings 6:16). Not a tourist attraction, it was a private place with highly restricted access (Numbers 3:10).
When a priest entered the inner sanctuary, the magnificence of the place would have been obvious. Carvings of flowers, palm trees, and cherubim decorated the walls, which were covered in gold. Gold also adorned the altar, the floor, and the 15-foot twin sculptures of cherubim whose wings spanned the width of the room (1 Kings 6:24,28).
The inner sanctuary that Solomon built spoke of God’s supremacy and His holiness. So it’s a bit intimidating to remember that today Christians are God’s dwelling place. Speaking to believers, Paul said, “All of you together are the temple of God and . . . the Spirit of God lives in you” (1 Corinthians 3:16). The apostle also wrote that God’s Spirit dwells in each of us individually (1 Corinthians 6:19).
Since God isn’t some far-off being, but is present inside us, the choices we make affect Him deeply. This truth gives us extra incentive to obey Him as we consider His holiness and love for us. May our bodies, minds, and souls be places fit for the King!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Exodus 18:1-27
More:
Read Romans 8:9-11 for more about the relationship of the believer to the Holy Spirit.
Next:
How often do you consider the way your decisions are approved by God? What does it mean to “stifle the Holy Spirit”? (1 Thessalonians 5:19).
Gary Shultz on February 13, 2016 at 7:23 am
God’s Spirit is a most wonderful thing, and it does so many things. I hope I can unpack this – To me the Spirit is like the batteries in a flashlight, simple illustration of course, when we receive Christ, we get this unbelievable set of batteries. The flashlight can now shine very brightly. If we get the light in the dirt, block the lens or cover it, we inhibit the light. Every flashlight comes with a switch and we can separate the energy from the light that is supposed to shine. God allows the switch to remain under our control, but the Spirit wants to shine. The light that shines is the one where love has completed its destiny, God with man. Thanks for shinning on us Jennifer.
jennifer benson schuldt on February 13, 2016 at 2:59 pm
Gary,
Your flashlight analogy reminds me of Matthew 5:14-16 where the Bible encourages us to let our light shine so that the world can see God’s glory. It’s not us, but Him in us that makes all the difference. Thanks for writing in!
sdwise on February 13, 2016 at 9:06 am
How wonderful to know that the Spirit of God manifested as the third person of the Holy Trinity lives in ever believer at the point of accepting Jesus as our Savior. Jesus told us that He must go away, but would leave us the comforter, so that we would not be alone until He returns. He is the person who guides us in all truth by teaching us and encouraging us in the Word, and takes our prayers and present them to God according to what is acceptable to God. Thank God He is not just a feeling for our own feelings can deceive us. Thank you Holy Spirit for illuminating my path Psalm 119:105.
jennifer benson schuldt on February 13, 2016 at 3:07 pm
sdwise,
Thank you for this deep, wonderful truth about the Holy Trinity. Our own feelings and thoughts can trick us (Jeremiah 17:9)–as you said–but as Christians we can rely on God’s Spirit for direction. If we listen to the Holy Spirit, we will always find our way back to the truth in the Bible and the one who dwells in unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:15-16).
sandy229 on February 13, 2016 at 9:19 am
This is so amazing and spectacular! I pray that my body, soul, and mind may be fit for a King, and that I can be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him, which is my reasonable service.
jennifer benson schuldt on February 13, 2016 at 3:21 pm
sandy229,
I was reading in the Old Testament this week about the outfit that was made for the priest who went into God’s temple. There was a headpiece that included a gold medallion with this phrase engraved on it: HOLY TO THE LORD. May every part of us be set apart for God’s use.
ayoyinka on February 13, 2016 at 1:41 pm
God’s spirit in me is like the most amazing and wonderful gift I have and will ever receive… He has helped me keep me in check (I say he because he’s a person)… He’s like a headlamp in the dark… I am most grateful for this gift!
jennifer benson schuldt on February 13, 2016 at 3:11 pm
ayoyinka,
Thank you for reminding us about having gratitude for God’s gift of the Holy Spirit. Believers have so much to be thankful for–so many spiritual blessings.