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The Word of the Lord came to King Solomon while he was completing the Temple.

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “dwelling place”. A dwelling place is a building or a shelter where one lives. King Solomon’s project was to build a magnificent temple for worship and to honour God, a place where Israel will meet God to offer their sacrifices.

Solomon took this project very serious and ensured that the best of quality materials were used. We shall discover that God was not really interested in the beauty and awesomeness of the infrastructure. This brings us to the distinction between a temple or the house of God and a church, which actually the people of God. The temple is not a church until in is inhabited by a people of God. God told King Solom that you may build the biggest chaple for me (my own emphasis) but the caveat or warning is that “if you will walk in my statutes and obey my rules and keep all my commandments and walk in them, then I will establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father. And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel.” (1 Kings 6:11-13)

My dear friend, God desires to have a relationship with you and not your temple, chapel or church building. It is for this reason Stephen admonished the Jews in Act 7:48-50 that “But it was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?’” We again reminded by Paul through his letter to the Corinthians that “… do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthian 6:19-20) All the forgoing are summarized in Jesus’ Words that “Heaven and earth (including all the big and beautiful temples) will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Luke 27:33).

Beloved in the Lord, let God dwell in you through His Word. You are his precious temple. Take advantage of the Advent season and invite Jesus to make your body His dwelling place. When you are done making Christ your Lord and Saviour then pay attention to Hebrew 10:21-25 which admonishes us that no matter how your chapel or temple looks like, it may even be a mere tent or may be under a tree, regardless of your place of communal worship “…and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near..” Shalom

PRAYER

Almighty God grant us the discernment to understand that we are more important than buildings made with human hands, may this knowledge revive your church toward soul winning and discipleship than focusing on cement and iron rods, for you have assured us thay you dwell among us. Amen.

Jean-Paul Agidi (Rev)