TABERNACLE AMONG US
Carey Madding
Today's Scripture: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14, ESV
Theme: Since Jesus came and His Spirit lives within believers, the temple is near and within us.
OLD COVENANT
The tabernacle which Moses constructed in the desert was the place where God dwelt amid the people. After King David had strengthened the kingdom, captured Jerusalem, and made it his royal city, he began to plan for a temple to replace the temporary, portable (and less than imposing) tabernacle. He wanted a regal, fitting place in which the glory of God would dwell. Although he did not build it, his son Solomon did. It was stunning and the glory of the Lord came to inhabit it. “...And when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord, ‘For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,’ the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God” (2 Chronicles 5:13b-14, ESV).
NEW COVENANT
We know today’s scripture well. But maybe the most literal translation of it will surprise you: “And the Word became flesh, and did tabernacle among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of an only begotten of a father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14, YLV). God came down to us; He was no longer separated, off in a holy, reverent place. Jesus walked, slept, and mingled with the people around Him. Jesus resided in their guest rooms and ate at their tables. He touched them: the rich, poor, dirty, proud, sinful, and seeking. He tabernacled with us, no longer apart from us.
“I WAS GLAD”
King David said, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” (Psalm 122:1, ESV). God the Spirit is residing in me, and I am a temple to Him. Should we not be this joyful—and even more so—to meet with God in our quiet times with Him? To go to worship with our large group and celebrate weekly? To gather with our small groups in Life Groups and Serving Teams and share with each other what God has done this past week? The temple is here, and God dwells with us. He makes His presence known in our worship and times of prayer.
Make It Personal: Are you glad to get into God’s presence, whether in your prayer time, worship with the family of God, or gathered in your small group? Are you missing out on the fullness of the Spirit and God’s love? Seek Him! He promised to show up and, if you allow Him, make Himself known in and through your life.
Pray: Lord, stir up my spirit. I want to be glad to meet and commune with You. I want to be a clean vessel in which You dwell. In Your Name I pray. Amen.
Read: Psalm 100, 16:5-9,16:11; Isaiah 1:16-19; Acts 2:42-47; Matthew 18:19-20
Weekly Memory Verse: “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” Hebrews 9:11-12, ESV