Scripture: 1st Corinthians 3:16-17
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
Thought for the Day: Paul begins these verses with a question that is in fact a rebuke of sorts. It could even contain a hint of sarcasm, almost like saying, “Any idiot would know that you are God’s temple.” So if folks in the church said they did not know, the implied answer would be that not knowing made them idiots. What is also important to note in this passage are the two YOUs. Too often people reference this passage to speak about an individual being God’s temple, yet Paul was not speaking to the individual members of the church. The YOUs are plural (Greek has that unique ability), and as you probably know, Paul was very interested in the idea of the individual members coming together in a single body, a single entity in Christ. I’m not suggesting that God’s Spirit remains outside of us as individuals, but the temple of God described here is the coming together of the people. It is not a building, but a collection of human beings working together in a beautiful dance of faithfulness. So wonderful is there unified conviction of serving Christ, that we do not see individuals, but a body, a temple.
Prayer: Forgive me, Lord, when I stand outside the temple of your Spirit. Let me continue to work as a faithful participant in your work, doing so without concern for personal recognition or praise. Amen.
JOIN TOGETHER TODAY
Noon and 6:30pm
To continue our look at Paul’s letters
to the church in Corinth
