Are you a Christian Living as a Temple?

Solomon's Temple was a wonder to behold! I recently read the description of it in I Kings 6 &

7. It had gold overlays everywhere; ornate carvings of lions, palm trees, oxen, cherubim, and lilies filled the doors, the walls, and the stands. The lovely fragrance of cedar was everywhere. The temple had three stories, with each floor just a little wider than the one below it. Close your eyes and imagine walking through the magnificent doors overlaid with gold. Breathe in the heady scent of cedar mixed with incense. Are you awestruck by the beauty and magnificence?

As glorious as Solomon's temple was to behold, it only endured for 400 years before it was destroyed by Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar. Later Cyrus authorized the building of a second temple. This temple came to be known as Herod's Temple. It was here where Jesus drove out the money changers. Nevertheless, it, too, was destroyed in 70 BC during the Roman siege of Jerusalem.

The Need for a More Permanent Kind of Temple

Obviously, these two attempts at building a temple for the Lord God to inhabit fell short. Therefore, we read in the New Testament about a different kind of temple. In 1 Corinthians, The Apostle Paul refers to himself as a wise builder having laid the foundation of Jesus Christ for the Corinthian believers. In verses 16-17 he says, "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for God's temple is sacred, and you together are that temple." God's new temple is the collective body of Christ -- all those who have put their faith in Christ alone are part of that temple.

Later in chapter 6, Paul is addressing the sexual immorality that is so prevalent in the Corinthian church. He reminds them in verse 19, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you haver received from God? You are not your own." Just as the Spirit of God filled the temple when Solomon first dedicated it in I Kings 8, even so when we rest our trust in Christ alone for salvation from sin, the Holy Spirit fills us. We become His temple.

How Does Christian Living as a Temple Look?

Does the fact that we are a temple make a difference in the way we live, the way we dress, they way we speak? It should! As living temples, we are a beautiful representation to the world of the glory of God. So what can we do to reflect God's glory?

• Dress in a way that reflects our Lord. We should be tasteful, but modest. A good question to ask yourself is "Does this outfit draw attention to me in any way that might take someone's focus off the Lord?"

• Practice good hygiene. Clean hair and skin, pleasant breath, and even subtle makeup if necessary will create a pleasing impression for others. The goal here isn't to please people; rather, it is to create an impression that opens the door for conversations about the Savior.

• Check your attitude. Do you have the mind of Christ Jesus who came to serve others, not to be served? Do you have to be the first in line? Do you drive a little faster so noone can get in front of you? Or do you look for ways to put others before yourself?

• Choose your words carefully. Avoid gossip, ugly language, hasty criticism, and unkind expressions. Jesus taught that your words are a reflection of what is in your heart. (Matthew 12:33-370

• Wear a smile. A wonderful way to put others at ease is by smiling at them. A smile opens doors and draws others to you.

God designed you to be a reflection of His glory here on earth. Then He filled you with His Holy Spirit. You are His glorious masterpiece, even more beautiful to Him than Solomon's temple! How will thinking of yourself as a temple of God change the way you live this week?