6 Minute Read
Today’s Bible Reading:
2 Samuel 22:1-23:23
Acts 2:1-47
Psalm 122:1-9
Proverbs 16:19-20
Today’s Bible Verse(s):
Psalm 122:1 (NLT): “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’”
Reflections on Today’s Bible Verse(s):
In the Old Testament, “the house of the Lord” was the temple. It was a building that was designated for the purpose of worship. If the people of God wanted to enter into the Lord’s presence, they went to the temple (“the house of the Lord”).
But, after Jesus ascended into Heaven (Acts 1:9-11) and the Holy Spirit came down (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; Acts 2; etc.), the Spirit of God took up residence within the physical bodies of believers (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). According to 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, our bodies are now the “temple of the Holy Spirit” (a.k.a. “the house of the Lord”). Our bodies are now the place where we worship the Lord.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT): “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”
Our worship is no longer limited to a time and location. We should not think that our “worship time” is when we show up for “worship services” at the church building. Instead, we are to worship our Lord in each moment of every day in whatever location we find ourselves in (1 Corinthians 10:31).
The church building is not “the place of worship.” The word “church” in the New Testament NEVER referred to a building – not one single time. Instead, Jesus and the New Testament writers used the word “church” (Greek: “ekklesia”) to refer to a called out group of believers. It is the body of believers who gather for corporate worship, instruction from the Word, mutual encouragement, needed accountability, and so much more. While our worship is not limited to the times that we gather for church worship, it must certainly include church worship. The Christian life was never intended to be lived alone – we need each other.
So, the verse I have chosen for today should apply in at least two ways:
1). We should desire to be glad all the time because we ARE the House of the Lord as He lives inside of us (just as He previously resided in the Old Testament Temple).
2). We should be glad every time we prepare to gather with other believers in each of our churches. Those times of corporate worship allow us to experience God in a very special way with our church family of friends.
Psalm 122:1 (NLT): “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’”
Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com). His latest book is God’s Grace in the Real World. Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
Matt’s Musings 