TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
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; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Read: 1 Corinthians 3:19-20
Listen: 1 Corinthians 3
TODAY’S MESSAGE
As the Corinthian family heads to the Agora (marketplace) to shop, their eyes travel from temple after temple. Over on the right is the temple of Apollo, the god of healing and diseases. A long line of people waits to offer their sacrifice in hopes of a cure. Further down on the left is the temple of Zeus, the weather god. Farmers there pray for a good harvest. Around the corner is the Aphrodite temple, the goddess of procreation. Those who desire a child seek her favor. The Corinthians know they must go to the temple where that specific god resides to offer prayers and praise for whatever they need.
But Jesus changes everything, including where God dwells. God’s people no longer have to go to a place (tabernacle or temple) to visit God. We don’t have to hop on a plane or go on a pilgrimage to visit God’s presence and worship him. God continually shows he wants to be near his people. He does that now through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. God is not only dwelling WITH his people—he dwells IN.
God’s presence, through the indwelling Spirit, is promised to each of us when we trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin. The Apostle Paul tells the believers in Ephesus, “When you believed, you were marked in him [Jesus] with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit…” (Ephesians 1:13). We are assured of God’s presence in us when we place our faith and trust in Jesus as our Savior and Lord.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Thank God for the gift of his Holy Spirit who indwells you. If you are not a follower of Jesus and want the Holy Spirit to live in you, we’d love to talk with you. We can tell you how God sent Jesus to save you from your sin. Contact us at btw@adabible.org to begin a conversation.
NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN
Join us this year as we read through the New Testament.
Today’s reading is Revelation 19.
