God's Holy Fire: 'Sacred People'

Thursday, March 19, 2026

Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
— 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NLT

Key Thought

As beautiful as the promise of yesterday was (Ephesians 2:22), the underlined part of today's scripture is a chilling and ominous warning. Since God builds us together into his dwelling place in the Spirit and makes us his holy temple, then we must value our congregation and the people who are part of that congregation. Those who destroy a congregation by sowing discord, creating animosity, or spreading gossip and rumors must hear God's clear warning: You destroy his temple, and you will be destroyed! Why? Because the temple, the folks that make up a congregation of the Lord's people, are holy and precious to God. In a world that focuses on the negative and that cherishes the next juicy morsel of gossip, we must take a positive approach to life because we know the great value of those who belong to God!

Today's Prayer

O Father, please forgive me for not valuing your children and your congregation of your people as you do. Give me a deep appreciation of my brothers and sisters for whom Jesus died, a deep connection to those who share in your Holy Spirit, and a deep reverence for what is holy and precious to you. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

6 Related Resources by Heartlight

Don't Vandalize God's Temple
Devo: God's Holy Fire
"You realize, don't you, that you are the temple of God, and God himself is present in you? No one will get by with vandalizing God's temple, you can be sure of...."
We Are God's Holy Temple
Devo: Together in Christ
"Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this..."
All Things Are Ours
Devo: Praying with Paul
"Dear Father, who loves to dwell with man, Thank you for dwelling within our spirits, for making us your holy temple! Help us not to be deceived or to..."
Become a Builder
Article by Paul Faulkner
Why tear down when you can build others up? Paul Faulkner reminds us that we are put here to be a blessing to others and inspire, encourage, and build up, not tear down and criticize because the church, Jesus' community, is God's holy temple.
See All 6 Related Resources about 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Illustration

Illustration of 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NLT — For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Thursday, March 19, 2026

A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Precious People'
"Dear Precious One, Has anyone told you lately you are precious? You are! You are a blood-bought child of the Father. I rescued you from sin, death,....."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Psalms 26:9
"Fear made David pray thus, for something whispered, "Perhaps, after all, thou mayst be gathered with the wicked." That fear, although marred by..."
What Jesus Did!
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
'See Jesus as God Up Close' (Jn. 14:1)
"[Jesus continued,] "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.""
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'Tuning the Time' (Acts 19:38-41)
"[To the crowd that was incensed about the threat to the worship of Artemis and to their business, the mayor of Ephesus said,] "If Demetrius and the....."

About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

More God's Holy Fire

Translations