Learning To Live As The Temple Of God

Do you not know that you are

the Temple of God and that the

Spirit of God dwells in you?

If anyone defiles a temple of God,

God will destroy him.  For the

Temple of God is holy, which Temple

you are.  Let no one deceive himself.

If anyone among you seems to be wise

in this age, let him become a fool

that he may become wise.

For the wisdom of this world is

foolishness with the God.  For it is written,

"He catches the wise in their own craftiness;"

and again, "The LORD knows the thoughts

of the wise, that they are futile."

1 Corinthians 3:15 -- 20;

 cf. Job  5:13; Psalm 94:11

            The opening scriptures were a bit lengthy for what I would normally post. I am reminding us that we are no longer what we were before in our conversion to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We have become the temple of God.  As the temple of God then we have the responsibility to do the things that God has commanded us to do.  We are able to do those things that God commanded for He did not leave us destitute to our own wisdom.  God indwells all of His children enabling them to be the ambassador's that He has commanded us to be.  We are not to become wise in our own eyes.  That type of wisdom is only the wisdom of this world and that would be foolishness in the sight of God.  The world will see us as foolish for they will see us through their wisdom of this world, but we are to become fools for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  God is not going to let the wisdom of this world to continue forever for He has promised to catch them in their craftiness that has the foundation of being lies.  The wisdom of this world is futile even though they do not see it as futility.  This is what the Corinthian church was allowing to embed into their thinking, and practice as Christians.  This is only a carry over into the church the wisdom in futility of this world.  One of the things that Paul has begun to address in this latter was that: "Therefore let no one boast in men.  For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or of the world of life or death, of things present or things to come -- all things are yours.  And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's" (1 Corinthians 3: 21 -- 23).  In the next letter that we have from Paul to the Corinthian church and we are reminded: "Do you look at things according to the outward appearance?  If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ's, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ's, even so we are Christ's.  For even if I should boast something more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your distruction, I shall not be ashamed -- lest I seemed to terrify you by the letters" (2 Corinthians 10: 7 -- 9).  It is not that we don't hold men of learning with some esteem and recognize their authority.  What we do know is we inspect what we expect from such men and we do our inspection by comparing what is said to us, or preach to us, by the Holy Scriptures.  This means that we must take time to not just listen to a sermon, or to some teaching, and then go about our business forgetting that which we have just heard.  It would be like looking into the mirror and seeing yourself, and then walking away forgetting what you look like: is this not foolishness?  We are to examine all things: "Test all things; hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5: 21); "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, what ever things are noble, what ever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are a good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things" (Philippians 4:8).  How are we to do these things that we are asked to do, that is, to examine things to see whether they are of those things that were just quoted from Paul?  The question we must ask ourselves is this: "Am I willing to set aside time so that I can study the Holy Scriptures and meditate upon them allowing the Holy Spirit to teach me?"  Another question is this: "Am I willing to set time aside to speak with and pray with my spouse, and my children?"  A question that we must ask all of ourselves is: "Am I making God the priority of my life, or am I allowing the things of this world to detract from studying and praying to God?"  It seems as though Christians have become more involved with the wisdom of this world, and with the many things that even while being good, are not teaching and leading ourselves or our children to make God in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the priority of our lives.  I've said this before I will say it again; to be a Christian you must be courageous, you must hold and not vacillate in regard to your convictions about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Do you believe that the Holy Bible is actually the inspired word of God, in errant, and infallible, and preserved by the providence of God?  The answer to that question will determine your character in how you exercise your Christianity.  When we allow the doctrines of men no matter how good they sound to lead us in ways that are not outlined for us in the Scripture then we are being led by any wisdom of the them the wisdom of God.  This all will require a change from the inside/out.  This will require that we set time aside from our daily activities by setting as a priority to spend time with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to teach us so that we are living as what we are: a child of God.

It is good to give thanks to the LORD,

            in to sing praises to Your name.

O Most High.  To declare Your lovingkindness

            in the morning, and your faithfulness

every night.

                                    Psalm 92: 1 -- 2

We have much to be thankful for

Richard L. Crumb