Daily Bible Reading – June 11, 2021

Jun 11 (1 Kings 5-6; 2 Chronicles 2-3) We are impressed by the size and scope of the project of building the temple. The job required 3,600 foremen just “to keep the people working” (2 Chr. 2:18, NIV). Solomon’s motivation is described in his own words: “The house which I am about to build will be great, for our God is greater than all the gods. But who is able to build a house for Him, since the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him?” (2 Chr. 2:5-6). Solomon wanted the temple to be worthy of the God who would reside in it! Our readings for the next four days will lead us to contemplate with Solomon the answer to two questions: How can a physical house even contain such a great God? And who is the person that could ever build a house for Him?

To answer the first question, a physical house can NOT contain God. The New Testament teaches us that we have become God’s house, that the Spirit of God lives in us. “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? … the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are” (1 Cor. 3:16-17). “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” (1 Cor. 6:19).

The second question is answered by grace. Who could ever provide a house for God? Those whose sins have been forgiven by His grace, and who have invited God in Christ to come in and make Himself at home in their lives! Peter wrote that when this happens to us, we “are being built up as a spiritual house” (1 Pet. 2:5).

– Al Gary


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