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Building God's House

It's been awhile since I blogged. Not a lot to share recently. God is still dealing with some issues in my life. It seems He never rests taking care of those areas.

I recently just finished the cardboard model our church gave us to remind us that we're a part of building God's House. It may mean physical and it may mean spiritual. I started it yesterday and thank God it looks as it's supposed to look.

I remembered two accounts in the Bible where the people of God were doing the same task as a body.

David and the leaders, priests and families of Israel gathered together some time ago to build a temple for the Lord. It was that very temple where people from surrounding nations, not just the Israelites, would go to to visit the God of Israel.

I just love the exhortation of David when he encouraged his people that they were doing the right thing and appreciated their earnestness to give to the work.

"But who am I, and who are my people that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. Our days on earth are like a shadow.. LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. Lord, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. Give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, statutes and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided."
1 Chronicles 29:14-18


The second story was the second rebuilding of the Jewish temple. The old house was in ruins after the siege of Assyria. Here God was comforting his people to be strong and to continue the work.

"'Be strong all you people of the land,' declares the LORD, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the LORD Almighty. 'This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear...I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations and the desired by all nations will come, I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty. 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty. The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty."
Haggai 2:4-9

I thought when God was saying the silver and the gold are His, it meant that He will provide for the work. A Bible commentary of Haggai 2:8 says that God was comforting his people because this generation did not have the wealth of great kings David and Solomon. There was no more a King of Israel after some years from their exile.

Isn't God incredible? He was telling the people that it is okay if it will not be what it used to be (The first one had treasures of gold). But that they will still build and they will finish the task.

And now what more in this time of Christ reigning above the throne? The Bible says we have a better gloryChrist Himself, better than all temple treasures and artifacts. Hebrews 11:23-28 says that the physical temple during the time of David was just a copy of the heavenly one. The physical building and temple things had to be purified by animal sacrifices. They had all the wealth but without the purification of the temple and its people through sacrifices, the worship will fall short.

Because of Christ, the things that we do for the Lord and even the people who enter into God's presence can glorify Him and meet God's standards because Christ stands as its perfect purification offering. "For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence...he has appeared once for all to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin (which was what he already did 2,000 years ago), but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." (Hebrews 9:23-28) Christ is the FINAL sacrifice. Through Christ, the new church is glorified. Through Christ, the building work that we do will bring glory to God.

I know that church is more than just a building. Church is made of people like the house of Israel during the time of David or the disciples at the time of Peter and Paul. God has just given us the privilege of gathering together in a building for worship or a sanctuary. But in actuality, it can be in a house, a coffee shop or a classroom. Because Christ is Spirit and we—the Churchare His temple, everywhere we go can be a place of worship.

In light of Christ standing on our behalf, what are we now to do? Hebrews 10:19-25. Now that Christ has purified our worship, the Apostle Paul makes the following encouragement:
"...let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

The Word today has encouraged me that my blogging, because it is tied with my faith in Christ and not on my merits, will be accepted by the Father. (I was cringing a bit when I started writing this knowing I haven't had a perfect day—again.) Glory to JESUS Alone.

Blessed weekend!


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