May 5th | A Holy Temple

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 

A HOLY TEMPLE

Ephesians 2:21 “In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.”   

In these daily devotions, sometime ago they were based upon Peter’s first letter. As does St. Paul here in the second chapter of Ephesians discuss the fact that Christ has formed the Church by bringing together all who believe in Him, forming them into a “holy temple,” so Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:4-5, “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house [Paul uses the term “holy temple”] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 

The picture Paul creates here in Ephesians 2 is that the church is not built just once and then must be maintained. Rather, it is always under construction. New “stones” (members of the body of Christ) are being added regularly.   

The “holy temple,” the church is built through the work of the pastoral office as St. Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:11-12, “So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up . . .” It is also built up by the words that you and your fellow believers speak to one another as St. Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” 

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 says that “ . . . you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst . . . God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.” St. Paul further states in 2 Corinthians 6:16 “  . . . (you) are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with (you) and walk (with you), and I will be (your) God, and (you) will be my people.” 

You are a holy temple! 

Prayer: Holy God, through Your Word and the Sacraments, form and mold me to be a “living stone” to be built into Your holy temple. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Lord Jesus Christ, the Church’s head, You are her one foundation;  
In You she trusts, before you bows, And waits for Your salvation.  
Built on this rock secure, Your Church shall endure  
Though all the world decay And all things pass away.  
O hear, O hear us, Jesus! 

O Lord, let this Your little flock, Your name alone confessing,  
Continue in Your loving care, True unity possessing.  
Your sacraments, O Lord, And Your saving Word  
To us, Lord, pure retain. Grant that they may remain  
Our only strength and comfort.

Help us to serve You evermore With hearts both pure and lowly;
And may Your Word, that light divine, Shine on in splendor holy  
That we repentance show. In faith ever grow;  
The pow’r of sin destroy And evils that annoy.  
O make us faithful Christians. 

And for Your Gospel let us dare To sacrifice all treasure;  
Teach us to bear Your blessed cross, To find in You all pleasure.  
O grant us steadfastness In Joy and distress,  
Lest we, Lord, You forsake Let us by grace partake  
Of endless joy and gladness.  (LSB 647)