A new kind of conversion is taking place in England and Europe. Due to a steady decline of Christian belief and the high costs of maintaining churches, the ancient structures are being converted into bars and other commercial buildings. Some are even being used as mosques.
In his dedication prayer, King Solomon underscored the significance of a temple where God was to be honored (2 Chronicles 6:33). Solomon understood what a great privilege it was to have the transcendent God dwelling among His people and hearing their prayers (2 Chronicles 6:18-21). Envisioning a time when even “foreigners” would come to pray in the temple, the king asked God to answer the prayers of believing Gentiles so that “all the people of the earth [would] come to know and fear [Him]” (2 Chronicles 6:32-33). God had paved the way for all humanity to worship Him. The temple was to be “a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:3,6-7, 66:18-19).
In Jesus’ day, the area of the temple where the Gentiles were to worship God had been converted into a marketplace—depriving them of the opportunity to draw close to Him. A few days before He died on the cross, Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there (Matthew 21:12-13). He returned the temple to its intended use. “[It] will be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Mark 11:17).
Today, because of what Christ accomplished on the cross, God now dwells in His people (1 John 4:15). Scripture reveals that “we are the temple of the living God” (2 Corinthians 6:16), “God’s house” (Hebrews 3:6). As living houses of prayer for all nations, may we seek to honor and worship Him with these living temples in which He’s chosen to dwell.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Numbers 21:4-9
More:
Read Isaiah 57:15 and consider what it means to have God residing within those who believe in Jesus.
Next:
What does it mean for you to be a living house of prayer? How do your words and actions reflect honor and worship of God?
Gary Shultz on February 21, 2017 at 5:25 am
Hi K.T.: It certainly is discouraging to hear of the wide spread abandonment of what used to uphold ideals of the faith, greater still, the disinterest of people to be open to God. The question was asked; however, “What does it mean for you to be a living house of prayer”? To me one of the first steps would be what Christ did, cleanse the temple. If by the initial repentance and belief in Christ or by accumulated sin in the believers life, we can’t approach God with sin in our lives. How do we then honor God? To me it is easy and natural, once confession has opened the way for cleansing, we can ask for renewed witness of God. And to me, a person who is invested in following God’s ways, finding Him in scripture and prayer, and allows God to be present in their lives, will naturally exhibit and honor God. Life will reflect the heart condition. Thanks K.T.
ecclesiastes on February 21, 2017 at 5:48 am
You are right of course. God does not live in some “holy” place where we can go and visit Him on a Sunday if we feel like it. Nor can we put God in a cupboard to be taken out every so often like some prized ornament to be polished and put away again after use. God lives in the garden, the fields, the woods, the home, the workplace and even in our prisons and refugee camps. But especially God lives within us. He is both transcendent and immanent. The question is what does the God within us want us to do? Answer; ask Him for He will soon tell us. God bless you
hsnpoor on February 21, 2017 at 3:12 pm
So interesting that you would ask that question, Ecclesiastes! I had reason to be in John 6 this morning and the answer was right there to be found in John 6:28-29. Blessings to you!
ecclesiastes on February 22, 2017 at 7:18 am
Thanks for pointing me to that verse. That is exactly what we are called to do. God bless you too.
don777 on February 21, 2017 at 6:13 am
Thank You Father for your Holy Spirit who lives in us, to give us the understanding of your Truth (Word), Guides & directs us. John 14:15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.
We don’t obey His commandments out of law. I keep His commandments because I Love Him. The Holy Spirit changes my want too’s. I want to do Gods Will. God has given us the gift of repentance for when we fail. Notice that repentance is a gift. +>i 🙂
beggar who found bread on February 21, 2017 at 6:39 am
The apostle Paul eloquently described the process that lead Europe to it’s present state in Romans chapter one. It is the predictable path of those who “suppress the truth by their wickedness”. Lead by academia they came to see themselves as too wise to accept the Gospel and became fools. Humanism replaced Theology. They began worshiping science and nature. God gave them over to their sinful desires and all kinds of sexual perversions were accepted as normal. Their birth rates are plummeting. May God have mercy and bring a revival to Europe. The United States is heading down the same path. We need a revival. It starts with you and me today as we take up our crosses and follow Him. The fields are white unto harvest. Grab your sickles and let’s go!
hsnpoor on February 21, 2017 at 3:20 pm
AMEN!! Gotta say, though, that I’m not sure the USA is in any better shape than Europe, at this point. Our birth rates are declining too, while death rates of younger people are increasing, on the physical side of things. The spiritual death rate in this country has got to be in the 90 percentile. A revival would be nice, but what we really need is God. The one, only and true God. The Prince of this world has gotten everyone so confused, even the elect are being fooled into believing his schtick. God help!!!!
heaven_letter on February 21, 2017 at 9:08 am
If Jesus is present at the place, He will drive out the marketplace sellers and things. This world is certainly increasing in material things and interest in worldly things as time passes since history. The natural way to behave is the worldly way, yet as we have known and learnt from our Heavenly Father’s teachings that, the evil one uses money and material things to lure people away from God and also other distractions. Many people only became spiritually-inclined as we encountered hardships, sufferings. Otherwise, people borned into the world would naturally behave worldly, just as I myself was, before I encountered my life trials. And, we certainly need to be taught by our Abba Father God so we would learn about His Kingdom of Heaven and His Heavenly way of living our time here on Earth. And also, people in this world are bound by their human ties to their family members, relatives, friends, work and school people. And a soul has to be determined to decide to leave the worldly way of behaving and dare to walk God’s way, that is of, healing the hearts and souls. Respecting God, Nature, hearts and souls of people. 🙂
Tom Felten on February 21, 2017 at 9:11 am
KT, thanks for this reminder that it’s not about bricks and mortar . . . it’s about people. Though some buildings are not longer used to worship Him, His Spirit is still actively working in the hearts of people in Europe and around the globe. May we each reveal God’s love and truth in the words we speak and in our actions today!
reddiespiritedhog on February 21, 2017 at 9:49 am
Amen, Tom! Buildings may be empty, but that doesn’t mean the hearts of God’s people are.
His love is spreading & blooming across the world!