The Building Up Of The Holy Temple

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

                                                                               (Eph 2:19-22 KJV)

We are one in Christ. By faith in his saving work on the cross, we who were not God's children are now God's children; brothers and sisters in Christ; fellow citizens of the Kingdom of God.

To each of us is given gifts to build the Church. The gifts are not necessarily brick and mortar. Rather, they are gifts of the Spirit and some could be referred to as talents. Some may be teachers. Some may be readers or singers. Some may sweep the floors or shovel snow. Others may be gifted with the gift of charity and occupied with feeding the hungry and reaching out to those in need. No matter what it is that each individual has been given the ability to do; all of these gifts are necessary to help build the church on earth and ultimately building up the true Church, the holy temple; the Body of Christ.

God gives us gifts to build up this holy temple; yet, for some reason many congregations seem to not be doing much to build up the Body of Christ. They remain in their little groups catering to themselves rather than going out into the world to share the good news. So intent on saving their buildings and their little circles the great commission is often forgotten. They will say: "we are too old" or "when I retire I will have time to serve the lord." Who knows what tomorrow will bring! 

Consider that each stone in the building is a person and their gifts. If some of the stones have been left out of a building, what will happen when a storm comes along? The wind and the rain and the snow will ravage that place and the people will have to spend even more time focusing on repairing a building rather than building up the Body of Christ. He is the cornerstone on which the holy temple is built. If he is not, then it is not the holy temple that is being built.

We are the habitation of God. Together, we are the holy temple. We are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. That holy temple needs every brick to be complete. Don't be found missing. Serve the Lord together according to each person's individual gifts.

God's Peace - Pr. J