Together in Christ: 'Valuable, Holy, and Essential Stones!' — Ephesians 2:19-22

Thursday, September 5, 2024

Merry Christmas!

We pray the Lord blesses you with the grace of Jesus' presence this Christmas!

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So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
— Ephesians 2:19-22 NLT

Key Thought

Every person who comes to Christ in faith is a valuable member of God's holy people. This is true regardless of race, gender, social standing, or any other characteristic. [1] All were made holy by the Spirit of God when they were "cleansed... made holy... made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." [2] Instead of God now living in a temple made by human hands, [3] each of us who belongs to Christ is a living stone being built into God's spiritual temple where He lives through the Holy Spirit. [4]

Just as we should never desecrate a holy place of God by destroying, marring, defacing, or tearing it down, we must not injure, wound, destroy, put down, or treat unfairly one of the "living stones" [5] of God, a stone that is being built into His holy Temple, the church. As God's holy people, we must view each other as holy and precious to God and a necessary and vital part of God's dwelling place.

[1] Galatians 3:26-29.
[2] 1 Corinthians 6:11.
[3] Acts 7:48.
[4] 1 Peter 2:4-5; 1 Corinthians 6:19.
[5] 1 Peter 2:5-10

Today's Prayer

Awaken my heart, O God, to the holiness and value of each of Your children. Use me to build up and encourage those You consider holy and precious. I want to value Your children of faith as You do, Father. Please help me see each person as an indispensable part of Your holy dwelling on earth. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • 1 Corinthians 3:16-19
  • 1 Peter 2:1-10

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Illustration

Illustration of Ephesians 2:19-22 NLT — So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.

About This Devotional

Together in Christ is a daily devotional that focuses on what Scripture teaches about godly living in relationships.

'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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