A Day-by-day devotional

January 27, 2023

Abandoned House

Chronological One Year Bible Reading Plan: Exodus 5-8

Scripture of the Day: Ezekiel 10:1-22

My nephew is fascinated by abandoned houses and buildings. Whenever we are traveling, he would be always be on the lookout for any dilapidated, abandoned building.

Abandoned buildings look unkempt. If there are any windows, they would most of the time be broken. The painting also looks cracked, and faded. On top of it all, the building is empty.

In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is the power from on high promised by the Father (Luke 24:49). He filled up the disciples with His power and presence when He descended from heaven after Jesus’ ascension (Acts 2).

In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God, His indwelling presence, His Shekinah Glory, rested in the Holy of Holies (Ezekiel 10:18). However, due to Israel‘s sin, there has been a time when His presence left the temple.

In our present time, the Holy Spirit dwells within us. Our body is His temple (1 Corinthians 6:19; 3:16-17). Thus, we should be in much consideration of the things that we do with and through our bodies. If our holy God is to dwell in our body, we should try our best to keep it pure. Our holy God is to be revered. It is an inappropriate act to even think that the Holy Spirit will take pleasure dwelling in a body that is unkempt.

Our God will never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8). Nonetheless, if His Spirit dwells in us and our body is His temple, but we are not taking care of it physically as well as spiritually, what kind of dwelling place are we offering Him? If we keep on using our body to commit immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18), let us not be surprised if it feels as though the presence of the Holy Spirit has abandoned us. Our holy God wouldn’t have anything to do with an unholy temple. His Spirit cannot dwell together with sin. Therefore, we should instead glorify our bodies for His purpose (1 Corinthians 6:20). If we do that, we wouldn’t feel like an abandoned house or building.

Reflection: Have you been taking care of your body physically and spiritually, considering that it is the temple of the Holy Spirit?

Prayer: Holy Spirit, forgive me for defiling my body and not taking care of it as I should. Do not abandon your temple. Enable me to live a holy life, glorifying God with my body and refraining from any form of immortality. Amen.