May 22, 2002

Reading: 1 Cor 3: 5-17

 

“You are the temple of God” (16)

 

I would like to continue (from last week) with some thoughts concerning the temple of God. There is a very real sense in which all born again believers comprise the temple of God, and just as real that each individual member is His temple (dwelling place) because the Holy Spirit dwells in us. We asked, “How can we build up the temple of God? How can I build and strengthen the structure that is me?”

When God told Moses to build the tabernacle, He said, “And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it” Ex 25:8-9. This was important to God, so He affirmed it, “And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain” Ex 25:40, and again, “And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain” Ex 26:30.

Paul told the Christians at Philippi, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” Phil 2:12. In other words, we have a responsibility to be involved in the growth and development of our Christian life. But why with “fear and trembling?” I suggest it is because it is an awesome responsibility. There are specific instructions, as surely as for the construction of the tabernacle. The ironic thing is, while the responsibility is ours, we cannot do it. How unfair is that? If we cannot accomplish it, how can we achieve it?

Jesus, as always, got to the bottom line, when He said, “Without Me you can do nothing” John 15:5. This should give us a clue, shouldn’t it? If we listed all the things the Bible tells us to do, it would be a long list. Jesus tells us we can’t do them. Paul turned these words into a positive statement, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Phil 4:13. In the words of both Jesus and Paul, the central element is Jesus. I must bring Jesus into the equation and I must be taken out. “Our sufficiency is from God” 2 Cor 3:5.

 

Not I, but Christ, be honored, loved, exalted,

Not I, but Christ, be seen, be known, and heard;

Not I, but Christ, in every look and action,

Not I, but Christ, in every thought and word.

 

Christ, only Christ, no idle word e’er falling,

Christ, only Christ, no needless bustling sound;

Christ, only Christ, no self-important bearing,

Christ, only Christ, no trace of I be found.

 

Not I, but Christ, my every need supplying,

Not, I but Christ, my strength and health to be;

Christ, only Christ, for spirit, soul, and body,

Christ, only Christ, live then Thy life in me.

 

Oh, to be saved from myself, dear Lord,

Oh, to be lost in Thee;

Oh, that it may be no more I,

But Christ that lives in me.

Mrs. A.A. Whiddington