May 6th | You are a Holy Temple to Praise God

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

YOU ARE A HOLY TEMPLE TO PRAISE GOD

Ephesians 2:22 “And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.”  

Thomas Winger, in his commentary on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians says Ephesians 2:22 is a doxology. (To be sure you know, a doxology is praise to God.) Winger paraphrased this verse to emphasize its doxological character, “ In whom [in Christ] also you are built up together into a dwelling place of God [the Father] in/by the [Holy] Spirit.” 

Today’s devotional verse continues to emphasize the fact that as a believer in Jesus Christ you, along with all of your fellow believers, are incorporated in Christ as living stones “into the walls,” Winger says, “of this great and final temple.” Winger says this temple “. . .is not just God’s residence but also the place He inhabits, where He does His thing.” 

As yesterday’s devotion said, you are the temple in which God dwells. He lives within you! He does this through His Word and the Sacraments. You are one in Him and He is in You. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)  

When you were buried with Christ at your baptism you were united with Him. At that moment you were changed into a “holy person.” You became a child of God. Your life purpose changed as well. You no longer lived for yourself. United with Christ you from that moment forward and into eternity you now live your life to the glory of God. As the Jewish Temple was a testimony that God lived among them so you and all your fellow believers give light to the world, a testimony to your faith in Jesus, and your commitment to live your life to the glory of God.   

You are a holy temple to give honor, praise, and glory to God! 

Prayer: Praise, honor, and glory be to You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Built on the Rock the Church shall stand   
Even when steeples are falling.  
Crumbled have spires in ev’ry land;   
Bells still are chiming and calling.  
Calling the young and old to rest,  
But above all the souls distressed.  
Longing for rest everlasting.  

Surely in temples made with hands   
God, the Most High, is not dwelling;  
High above earth His temple stands,   
All earthly temples excelling.  
Yet He who dwells in heav’n above  
Chooses to live with us in love,  
Making our bodies His temple. 

We are God’s house of living stones,   
Built for His own habitation.  
He through baptismal grace us owns  
Heirs of His wondrous salvation.  
Were we but two His name to tell,  
Yet He would deign with us to dwell  
With all His grace and His favor. 

Here stands the font before our eyes,   
Telling how God has received us.  
Ther altar recalls Christ’s sacrifice   
And what His Supper here gives us.  
Here sound the Scriptures that proclaim  
Christ yesterday, today, the same,  
And evermore, our Redeemer. 

Grant, then, O God, Your will be done,  
That, when the church bells are ringing,  
Many in saving faith may come  
Where Christ His message is bringing;  
“I know my own; My own know Me.  
You, not the world, My face shall see.  
My peace I leave with you. Amen.”  (LSB 645)