God’s Precious Temple

CALL TO PRAYER

By: Stephen Osei Kuffour

Date: 15.10.2023

Title: God’s Precious Temple

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.   (1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NKJV)

I once heard a story of a lady who is living in Europe and decided to build a house in Africa. Since she could not travel to Africa very often to manage the Project herself, she asked her brother who was living there to rather manage it for her. She told her brother how she wants the house and he agreed to ensure that it is done accordingly. The lady trusted her brother and so she sent him money for the Project whenever he requested. The Brother was also sending her Pictures and Videos to track the progress of the Project.

After some years, she decided to go back to Africa to see the beautiful house that the brother has built for her, only to find out that he didn’t build any house. He was just sending her Pictures of someone else’s house. The lady was heartbroken and decided to arrest her brother, but he was no where to be found. Some relatives came to plead on behalf of the brother and asked her to just let it go. However, almost everyone in the comment section including me wanted this wicked man found and punished.

After thinking about this issue for some time, a thought dropped in my mind. I was thinking that look at the way everyone is angry at this man who didn’t build her sister’s house and want him punished, how much more those who don’t build or misuse the Temple of God? The truth is that the Lord had always wanted to live among and within His People (Ex 25:8, Ez 36:27). In the past, many believed that the Lord wanted to live in a physical Temple and so they built nice Temples for Him, but their hearts were far away from Him.

The Lord through Prophet Isaiah revealed that He doesn’t desire to live in houses made with human hands, but He is looking for those who are humble, contrite in Spirit and fear Him (Isaiah 66:1-2). The main obstacle to the plan of God was sin. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and so He couldn’t dwell in us.

That’s why the Lord sent His only begotten son to earth to remove this obstacle (John 3:16). The Lord Jesus Christ who knew no sin then became sin for us so that we will become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor 5:21). Praise be to His holy name! Now the Lord can live inside His children just as He has always desired (1 Cor 3:16). We are indeed a chosen Generation! Glory be to God.

The Lord has paid a huge price for us and let’s therefore be mindful of how we live and the kind of things we use our body which is His Temple to do. Let’s present our bodies as living sacrifices to the Lord. Our bodies should be dedicated to serve the Lord and always obey and do His Will.

As Believers, we should be mindful of the foundation upon which the Temple of God is built, and the materials used. Let’s build on the foundation, which is Christ Jesus and, always abide by the truth in the word of God (1 Cor 3:11). Architects and Contractors who wrongly design and build houses with less quality materials are mostly arrested and prosecuted when the building breaks down. The Lord will surely reward you for your sacrifice and service. Those who defile His Temple will also receive the judgement they deserve.

Beloved in the Lord, we are the Temple of God because His Holy Spirit dwells in us. Let’s therefore be mindful of what we use our body to do. For those who offer their bodies as living sacrifices to the Lord will surely be rewarded and those who defile the temple of God will be destroyed.

Prayer Point:

Let’s thank God for His Word today. Let’s ask the Lord to help all Believers to always be conscious that we are His Temple. Let’s ask Him to help us to present our bodies as living sacrifices to Him.

God bless you all