A Holy Temple
Ephesians 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In Christ, the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in Christ you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
God desires to put us together with other believers. But not just put us together, build us together. Being built together indicates being together with purpose. It is not merely attending a meeting as though that is all there is.
It is coming together for the experience of His presence, which will also reveal the knowledge of His will. God has a determined will for each of us individually. Within the scope of His will for us individually is that part of His will that we are joined to others in the faith at such a level that we must interact, be connected with them, and work alongside each other in His greater kingdom purpose.
Does a brick get to say to the brick mason I refuse to be placed where you want? Or better yet, I refuse to be set in that wall at all?
To refuse the master Mason in being placed, there is a refusal of a greater experience of presence and growth, for it is in the placing that the temple for a greater habitation is built.
It is true that each of us possesses His presence, but here it is indicated that there is something of a much greater purpose and blessing than being alone can produce.
In the Letter to the Hebrews, the writer, moved by the Holy Spirit, seeks to reason with scattered Jewish believers being tempted to leave the beautiful expression of one new man in Christ and go back under Jewish traditions and law. It would mean that they forfeit the gathering of the church to pursue something else. Here is what the Holy Spirit counseled them.
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
No father likes to see his children opposing each other. He would much rather have them enjoying each other’s fellowship and, even better, joining together for one purpose.
The Father desires that we embrace being connected in fellowship at a local level. This letter to the Ephesians is written to encourage the church at Ephesus. They may not be able to meet regularly with the church at Jerusalem or Phillipi, but they can come together as the church where they are.
We are a holy temple for the Lord, and that is expressed on an even greater level when we come together with the intention of seeking Him and giving Him glory according to His greatness and goodness towards each of us. Jesus is coming, that day is approaching. I trust you are not only attending a fellowship but that you are actively participating in the purpose of the gathering. If not, I encourage you to become a part of what you were created in Christ for. Be the active part of the Holy Temple He means for you to be. There is a blessing in it for you and for those you join yourself to.
