THE CHURCH AS GOD’S DWELLING

…for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. (1 Corinthians 3:17b)

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

The church that gathers every Sunday in Corinth is unlike any other group. A room survey would see it filled with the young and old, rich and poor, Jewish Jesus-converts and former worshipers from the Zeus temple. It would find those familiar with the Old Testament Scriptures and those who know next to nothing. Sitting side-by-side would be slaves and slave owners, Jews and Romans and the well-educated and the illiterate. God brought this group together and made his temple. Working together gospel, they show people where God dwells in the world.

God desires this for his church today. The opportunities for division are more numerous than ever, yet God wants his community to be recognized as his dwelling place in the world. We get to choose how the world sees God’s community. We can present his dwelling place as one united as we serve joyfully, give generously and tell others of God’s love for them. Or, we can follow our culture into division, frustration and controversy.

This is all of us. We make this choice by what we say on social media, at family gatherings and in all our conversations. Each is an opportunity to move towards unity in what we say and do. As the temple of God, we show others about God.

ON THE COUCH WITH GOD TODAY

As you sing, “Exalted Over All,” meditate on the lyrics, “One name is higher, one name is stronger, than any grave, than any throne, Christ exalted overall.” Use these lyrics to move you towards helping the church community be a unified temple of God in 2022.