You Are the Temple of God

1 Corinthians 3:16–17: 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.

It is a serious thing to be a part of the building of God’s temple. First Corinthians 3:16–17 warn us that, if we destroy (“defile”) God’s temple by using cheap materials, God will destroy us! This does not mean eternal condemnation, of course, because 1 Corinthians 3:15 assures us that each worker will be saved, even if he loses a reward. I think Paul is saying that each of us builds into the church what we build into our own lives. Veteran missionary to India, Amy Carmichael, used to say, “The work will never go deeper than we have gone ourselves.” So we end up tearing down our own lives if we fail to build into the church the values that will last. We may look very successful to men, but “the day shall declare it” and on that day, some ministers will go up in smoke. ¹

Application

• Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. Consider the price God paid to buy you from the slave market of sin.
• Read Romans 13:14. We can avoid “defiling the temple of God” by making practical provisions to serve others instead of indulging in lustful pursuits.

Thought to Share

Thank God for buying you “as is,” and for making you “all His.” – TWEET IT

Prayer

Lord, please purge my temple of all impurities. Make me whole, and holy for You.