God's Spiritual Temple

[Daily Devotional]

God's Spiritual Temple 

     In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy
temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an
habitation of God through the Spirit. Eph. 2:21, 22.  

     The gospel is designed for all, and it will bring together in
church capacity men and women who are different in training, in
character, and in disposition. Among these will be some who are
naturally slack, who feel that order is pride, and that it is not
necessary to be so particular. God will not come down to their low
standard....  

     The people of God have a high and holy calling. They are Christ's
representatives. Paul addresses the church in Corinth as those who are
"sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints" (1 Cor. 1:2). . . .  

     If we have habits of speech and deportment that do not rightly
represent the Christian religion we should at once set about the work of
reform. As we represent Christ to the world, let us form such habits as
will honor Him. Everywhere hidden from observation, agencies are at work
to draw souls from Christ, and God would have still more powerful
agencies at work among His people to attract souls to Christ.  

     The Jewish Temple was built of hewn stones quarried out of the
mountains, and every stone was fitted for its place in the Temple,
hewed, polished and tested, before it was brought to Jerusalem. And when
all were brought to the ground, the building went together without the
sound of an ax or hammer. This building represents God's spiritual
temple, which is composed of material gathered out of every nation and
tongue and people, of all grades, high and low, rich and poor, learned
and ignorant. These are not dead substances, to be fitted by hammer and
chisel. They are living stones quarried out from the world by the truth,
and the great Master Builder, the Lord of the temple, is now hewing and
polishing them and fitting them for their respective places in the
spiritual temple. When completed, this temple will be perfect in all its
parts, the admiration of angels and of men, for its builder and maker is
God. Truly, those who are to compose this glorious building are "called
to be saints."  

>From That I May Know Him - Page 151