RPG Adults
A SPIRITUAL TEMPLE
THURSDAY, AUGUST 11
1 Peter 2:1-8
Psalm 118:14-28
“Stablish thy word
unto thy servant…”
A SPIRITUAL TEMPLE
The religious people of Jesus’ day looked to the beautiful temple in Jerusalem with its intricate rites as the centre of worship.
However, all of the temple ceremonies were instituted by God to point to the coming Messiah Jesus Christ and provide a covering for sin until His sacrifice was complete. With His coming, the temple and its sacrifices no longer served any spiritual purpose (Heb 10:9). Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman concerning the day when the temple in Jerusalem would no longer be the centre of biblical worship (John 4:21). The day of which Jesus spoke has come. Those who worship God do not look to a special geographical location, but worship Him in spirit and in truth. When we come to Christ by faith we become “lively stones” (1 Pet 2:5). That is to say each believer becomes a part of the spiritual temple which now takes the place of that physical temple in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit not only dwells in each believer, but as we gather together in Jesus’ Name, God is there in a special way (Matt 18:20).
The foundation stone of this spiritual temple is Jesus Christ. He was rejected and considered as worthless by the leaders of the old temple and by the rulers of this world. But He was the perfect sacrifice and thus became the foundation stone of the spiritual temple.
Because of men’s rejection of Christ, they fail to find peace with God. Rejecting salvation through faith, they seek it in religious ritual and good works, so Scripture says they stumble over the offering of salvation through Jesus Christ.
But we who believe are made a spiritual priesthood, able to offer up the sacrifice of praise and service to our God. Through Christ we have become God’s children and are allowed to share in great spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3). In Him we find all our needs supplied, all our hopes and happiness. While the world rejects Christ we find in Him all we need, both for this life and the life that is to come.
THOUGHT: How must I worship God?
PRAYER: Father, may I always keep my body (the temple of God) holy.