Devotion:
Read Exodus 25:8.
In Exodus 25 we read that God gave his people a blueprint to build "a sanctuary." It is most commonly called "the tent of meeting or tabernacle." It signifies the place where God met with Moses and his people and where lambs were sacrificed as an atonement for their sins. On one occasion it is called "the house of the Lord." (Exodus 23:19) This tent moved with the people as they traveled through the wilderness. The most important thing to remember about the sanctuary is this: it symbolized the dwelling place of the Lord. Almost five hundred years later this portable sanctuary was replaced by the beautiful temple, which was built in Jerusalem by King Solomon. Again, it represented the presence of God among his chosen people. The Tabernacle and the Temple were treated with great respect.
Why should Christians care about a temporary temple that existed during the Old Testament? This is where it gets personal! God sent his son Jesus to dwell among us. (John 1:14) In fact, the Greek word dwell is the same Hebrew word for tabernacle. Jesus came to earth and temporarily lived with us, dwelled with us. Gospel writer Matthew, quoting Isaiah, says Jesus is Immanuel meaning “God with us.” Jesus is literally God with his people! Just like the Tabernacle, his time on earth was temporary, but he will come again, in a more permanent fashion. In the meantime, for those of us who have chosen to give our lives to God and follow him, he resides in our hearts and not in a temporary dwelling space. We no longer have to offer up lambs for sacrifice, because Jesus was our sacrifice. God wants us to exhibit a life worthy of that sacrifice and to use our body as a sanctuary for him. We want to respect his Sanctuary.
Personal Worship Option:
For your time of meditation, click here to worship God through the song "Lord Prepare Me To Be A Sanctuary." https://youtu.be/4LiTy7ndOzw
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