Living Stones

“Come to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by the people, but He is precious to God who chose Him. And now God is building you, as living stones, into His spiritual temple. What’s more, you are God’s holy priests, who offer the spiritual sacrifices that please Him because of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:4-5 NLT

Peter’s words declare Christ as the foundation of the church, and those who follow Christ become the living stones that God uses to build His church. This reference does not suggest literal buildings, rather the building of the church as a community of believers. When the curtain in the Temple is torn in two, every believer gains direct access to God. Rejected but resurrected, Jesus creates a New Way back to God. Christ, the Great High Priest, makes the last and ultimate blood sacrifice for sin. Through Grace we can enter into the Presence of God as His holy priests. 

God always desires to have a dwelling place with His people, first in the tabernacle, later in the temple, then on earth in Christ, and now within each believer through the Holy Spirit. God’s presence resides in the community of believers, the body of Christ, the church. Holy God, infinite in wisdom, I try to imagine Your mystery but cannot understand such love, cannot comprehend such power, cannot explain such mercy. My sacrifice of praise is endless. Count me alive in Christ. Let this living stone glorify You! – dho 

Spiritual Temple

 “You must make your heart a spiritual temple,

a temple where you can go to adore Him incessantly.”

Brother Lawrence

“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.”

Acts 17:24-25 ESV

To effectively spread the Gospel, understanding the cultural language is of great importance. Paul brings the message of Christ to Athens, Greece, a great center of culture and philosophy. Greek intellectuals frequently challenge each other. In an attempt to introduce the Gospel message, Paul reaches into their world of curiosity and idols, uses common language, and draws them into his story. Starting in the marketplace, the Greeks take Paul to their official court, and there he preaches the Good News. While there are some who mock Paul, some walk away unsure, but others believe. The Holy Spirit breathes new life into those whose faith confesses Jesus as Redeemer.

As Christians, we find great comfort in knowing that God chooses us, forgives us, and calls us through Christ. God marks us as His own with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians says, “The Spirit is God’s guarantee the He will give us everything He promised and that He has purchased us to be His own people.”Whether we encounter opposing philosophies or cultural apostasy, the Promises of God always remain. El Shaddai, You are the Great I AM, the All Sufficient One who chooses me! Through Your Promises, I discover my identity in Christ. Your Spirit breathes new life into me, creating a spiritual temple within me. Count me alive in Christ. Praises keep rising to You! – dho

My Heart Rests in His Presence

“By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us – set us right with Him… We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that He has already thrown open His door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand – out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory.” Romans 5:1-5 MSG

                        

In the chasm between Holy God and human frailty, Jesus stands. In the desolate place between this God of Righteousness and the sinner’s rebellion, Jesus mediates. In the darkness of sin that offends holiness, Jesus lights the path back to God. Only righteousness brings peace that allows one to stand in the wide open spaces with God. The blood of Christ permanently opens the door to God’s grace and glory.

Because of Jesus, we are able to stand before God full of hope. The power of Christ’s resurrection creates a dwelling place for God in each believer. Now, we can experience God’s love, embrace God’s goodness, expect God’s peace. When we consider the generosity of God that flows into us through the Holy Spirit, we overflow with praises. 

Spirit of Love, take my wordless joy to the Father. I stand in a place reconciled through grace, lavished with love, and overwhelmed by glory! Count me alive in Christ. My heart rests in His Presence. - dho 

Christ Reveals the Dwelling Place of God

 “The Christian does not go to the temple to worship. The Christian takes the temple

with him or her. Jesus lifts us beyond the building and pays 

the human body the highest compliment by making His dwelling place, 

the place where He meets with us.”

Ravi Zacharias

“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.” Matthew 27:50-51 NASB 

Until this day, God’s Presence dwells on the Mercy Seat in the Most Holy Place in the Temple, but when Jesus breathes His last breath, the curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place rips from top to bottom. Before this moment, only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place and only one time a year on the Day of Atonement. Now, the barrier between humanity and God is torn apart. The crucified Jesus reveals the door to reconciliation. 

This long day has been full of betrayals and beatings, accusations and abandonment, interrogations and inscriptions, mockery and miracles. The crucifixion of Jesus reveals His willingness to die once for all, to be the last blood sacrifice needed for redemption. Standing at the foot of the cross, the Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that happened. They said, ‘Truly, this was the Son of God!” [Matthew 27:54] Christ reveals the dwelling place of God. 

Lamb of God, You reveal my imperfections! Some days I choose the world, use words that hurt, simply pretend to care. But because the veil is torn, I can enter the Holy of Holies. Count me alive in Christ. Every day You reveal the unforced rhythms of Grace. – dho

God Dwells Among Us

 “There is no chance thing through which God cannot speak—even the walk from

the house to the garage that you have walked ten thousand times before, even the moments when you cannot believe that there is a God who speaks at all anywhere. 

He speaks, I believe, and the words He speaks are incarnate in the flesh and blood of ourselves and of our own footsore and sacred journeys.”

Fredrick Buechner 

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

In the first chapter of John, Scripture describes the incarnation of the Word. Jesus, the Word, becomes human and dwells among us. Both fully God and fully human, Jesus enters the world as the visible manifestation of God, His perfect love in human form. This unique Father-Son relationship offers a glimpse of possibility for the Christian. Full of grace and truth, Jesus pitches His tent and takes up residence among the people. 

Throughout all time, God has chosen to dwell in the midst His people, but when Jesus enters the world, both visible and tangible, God literally lives beside His people. Jesus is the Truth that brings Grace because He is the Perfect Sacrifice for all sins. 

Image of the Invisible God, this mystery of You coming to live among the people transcends intellectual thought. Perfect Love, You reveal the Light that darkness cannot cover and become the Grace that sin cannot destroy. Count me alive in Christ.  Be born in me! - dho

God’s Presence Dwells with His People

All His glory and beauty come from within, and there He delights to dwell. 

His visits are frequent, His conversations sweet, His comforts refreshing: 

His peace passing all understanding.

Thomas Kempis

“The LORD replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’” Exodus 33:14

From the beginning in the garden, God desires an intimate relationship and divine fellowship with His people. At 75 years of age, Abraham leaves Haran in obedience to God’s call to a Promised Land. His response in faith to God would be blessed many times over; witnesses testify, “God is with you in all that you do.” Joseph, sold into slavery by his own brothers, is imprisoned in Egypt, but Scripture recounts, “the Lord is with him in prison,” protecting and providing. Joseph becomes a ruler in Egypt, saves the people from famine, including his own brothers. Moses leads the Israelites from captivity in Egypt across the Red Sea, a miracle of God. Throughout the next 40 years, God repeatedly demonstrates His promise to Moses and to His people, “My presence will go with you.” Despite the separation of God and mankind by sin, He still longs to be in relationship with us.

Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can boldly enter the Most Holy Place. Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. [Hebrews 10:22] Through Christ’s sacrifice, the intimate relationship between God and us is restored. How do we know our dwelling place is truly in God’s Presence? A genuine response to God must exceed our personal desires. Stepping out with faithful obedience to Christ’s example to love and encourage others will reveal our heart’s true resting place. 

Faithful Father, God of Power and Promise, find me willing to embrace Your goodness. In divine fellowship with You and other believers, let my words demonstrate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When I stand surrounded by those who are cold and lonely, hungry and thirsty, open my heart to live by the Spirit. Count me alive in Christ, my dwelling place His Presence. ~dho