NO BIBLE NO BREAKFAST DAILY BIBLE REFLECTIONS AND MORE

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “A House of Gold” A House of Gold is a reference to the Temple built by Solomon. A Temple or House of Gold represent a place of purity, holiness, divine glory, and eternal worth because gold is a rare and incorruptible metal. 2 Chronicles 3:1-8 details the commencement of Solomon’s temple construction on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, specifying the location, the starting date, and the dimensions of the building’s foundation and main hall. We shall reflect on the fact that just as King Solomon used gold to decorate both the inside and outside of the temple, we, the temple of God, must also represent gold and remain pure, holy, filled with divine glory, and be of eternal worth.

Beloved in the Lord, in the building of the temple, we are told King Solomon “…overlaid the inside with pure gold…The gold nails weighed fifty shekels. He also overlaid the upper parts with gold. (2 Chronicles 3:3,9). It is an indication that the temple will be filled with the glory of God, thereby representing a place of purity and holiness. Beloved, we are called upon to build beautiful places of worship with the best materials and metals so long as we have the means. However, as part of the necessity to provide a befitting place of worship, we are greatly reminded by Paul when he wrote, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore, honour God with your bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) It means that our bodies have been made golden through the priceless blood of Christ, which is more valuable than gold. Again, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit keeps our bodies holy, pure, with His divine glory that gives us an eternal worth so that we are as pure and holy as our place of worship.

Beloved in the Lord, beyond the chapel or place of worship, our bodies are mobile houses of Gold possessing purity, holiness, the divine glory of God and worth. It is for this reason Jesus assured us that “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20) Unlike the days of old, where the Israelites had to visit the house of gold or Temple to worship, we, through Jesus Christ our High Priest, have the Holy Spirit living in us as the temple of God. We also experience Him during our fellowship gatherings and at our places of worship. We need not build our chapels with gold if we do not have the means, but we must understand that we, the worshippers, represent the gold of purity, holiness and divine presence at our places of worship. If we understand that we are the temple of God, then our lives must radiate purity, holiness, and God’s divine glory onto the world. Anyone who encounters us must experience our golden and impactful attributes as children and temples of God. Before people enter the physical places of worship or temple, they must first experience the attributes of purity, holiness, divine glory and worth in us as the temple of God. Chapel buildings, temples or worship centres cannot speak for themselves or impact lives; it is we, the worshippers or children of God, who must make the impact through our preaching and conduct. It is for this reason that Jesus said to the disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20). Chapels, temples or places of worship, no matter how decorated they are with gold, cannot preach and impact lives; it is we, the living temples of God, who must participate in God’s divine mission of saving the lost and dying in the world.

In summary, we have discovered that just as King Solomon used gold to decorate both the inside and outside of the temple, we, the temples of God, must also represent gold by remaining pure, holy, filled with divine glory, and be of eternal worth. Shalom.

PRAYER

May the Holy Spirit empower us to possess the qualities of gold even as we participate in our God’s mission of saving the world.