Mine

This week we begin worship with:

2 Corinthians 6:16b

We are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

The word for temple (naos) is specifically the sanctuary itself (The Holy Place and the Holy of Holies).  This is the portion of the temple where the Glory of the Lord dwelt and where the priests operated.  It is not the outer courts where lay people were permitted to worship.

But this verse upsets that order.  Paul, using multiple verses from the Old Testament, declares that we are instead that sanctuary and are indwelled by the Living God.

What is the difference between something sacred and something profane (For example, a church and any other building)?  It is not the type of masonry, paint, or the color of the carpet.  It is that it has been set aside for God's use.  

This verse then reminds us that because we are God's dwelling we are to be set aside exclusively for His use.  

One can hear that exclusivity in the word "my".  We are to be no other's.

Boom

 This morning we start worship with:

2 Corinthians 9:8-9

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency[a] in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;

    his righteousness endures forever.” 

 

This verse starts with a bang.  That little word that describes God as "able" (dynatos) is the word from which we get dynamite!

Nothing seems to be left out -- "all grace", "all sufficiency", "all things", "at all times".  His power is present and available to us all the time.

But that power is not available for all purposes.  It is only available for good (agathos) works.  Yes, if you have ever met a person named Agatha, they are named for this singular purpose.

So, have you ever felt exhilarated after helping someone?  Now you know why.  

Level

This morning we begin worship with:

Psalm 143:10

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!

This is not a plea for an easy life.  Not all hikes are on level ground.

"Level ground" (mîšôr) is translated by many other English translations as "uprightness" and carries the meaning of justice.

This is a plea to know what God would want done.  

As we face a difficult conversation or relationship or circumstance, we are asking that the Holy Spirit guide us to that place of level justice.  There we love not based on merit and, if it is our position to do so, that we execute justice with impartiality.

While at work, my actions/words are frequently adjusted based to a person's organizational position.  Those adjustments ascribe to them their due authority.  This verse does not conflict with that, but pleads for the wisdom to stay level during that interaction.

Reigning

Today we begin worship with this introductory statement:

Romans 5:10

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

The passage goes on to explain how sin entered through one man (Romans 5:12-14) and produced death. But that work of our Lord Jesus Christ, though similarly through one man, was very very different.

Romans 5:17

For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

The difference is subtle but profound. While it was that death (the punishment) reigned, because of Adam’s sin, we (the recipients of God’s grace) will reign with Him in eternal life.