Together in Christ: 'The Holy Place Where God Makes His Home' — John 14:21, 23

Friday, October 18, 2024

Merry Christmas!

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

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[Jesus promised his disciples that,] "Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.

. . .

"All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them."

— John 14:21, 23 NLT

Key Thought

We have many reasons to obey Jesus. In today's relationship message, the Lord gives us two reasons to obey Him:

  1. We show Jesus that we love Him when we obey His commandments.
  2. The presence of God as Father, Son, and Advocate (the Holy Spirit) will come and make God's home in us. [1]

In ancient times, a temple was not just a place of worship. The fundamental importance of a temple was it was where a people's god was supposed to live. Jesus is saying that each of us can be God's holy temple, [2] the place where God in all His fullness makes His home. As we live in obedience to Jesus' commands, we are offering ourselves to be used as God's holy temple. In this place, within us, God's presence lives, and we are to manifest His glory. [3] We obey because we want to display our love for God and we long for His glory to be seen in us as we live to honor Him!

[1] John 14:15-18. While some worship took place at ancient temples and Israel's Temple, a temple was primarily the dwelling place of a people's God. For Israel, this was the Holy of Holies, where they placed the Ark of the Covenant and the glorious presence of God (shekinah) dwelled above the Ark.
[2] 1 Corinthians 6:19.
[3] 1 Corinthians 6:20; Romans 12:1-2.

Today's Prayer

Lord God, I join with the hosts of heaven in praising you:

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven's Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!" [A]

May Your glory, O God, be seen in my life as I offer myself to glorify You. I ask this in the name of Jesus, the risen Christ, and my Lord. Amen.

[A] Isaiah 6:3.

Related Scripture Readings

  • 1 Corinthians 6:9-20
  • Romans 12:1-2, 9-21

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Illustration

Illustration of John 14:21, 23 NLT — [Jesus promised his disciples that,] "Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them. . . . "All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them."

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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