Get the appCalvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale Daily DevotionalSample
A New Appetite
Something special happens inside a heart once it opens up to God. It develops a new appetite and begins to hunger and thirst for something that it never had before. That thing is God's glory, and David expresses this truth here in the eighth verse of Psalm 26.
He writes how he has loved being in the place where the Lord's glory dwells. At the time this was written, God's glory was manifested in a sacred tent called the Tabernacle. It was there that God would visibly reveal His glorious presence to His people, and it served as the center of the Israelite's society. Eventually, the Tabernacle was replaced by the Temple, which was built in the city of Jerusalem. Every Israelite's heart was drawn to this one spot, because it was the home of God's glory.
But in New Testament times, things changed. God's glory was removed from the Temple and poured out upon the corporate body of the Church through the Holy Spirit. So in our day and age, the place where God's glory dwells is in the midst of the Church.
It's becoming more and more common, even among Christians, to question the place and purpose for the church. Past faults and flawed personalities are often cited as reasons why some are trying to do the Christian life outside the church. Granted, no church on earth will ever be perfect. But at the same time, the collective body of believers is where God has chosen to pour out His glory, and if God has indeed done a work within us, then we'll love it and be drawn to it.
Glorious God, give us hearts that hunger and thirst for your glory and that love your Church as you do.
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?
Something special happens inside a heart once it opens up to God. It develops a new appetite and begins to hunger and thirst for something that it never had before. That thing is God's glory, and David expresses this truth here in the eighth verse of Psalm 26.
He writes how he has loved being in the place where the Lord's glory dwells. At the time this was written, God's glory was manifested in a sacred tent called the Tabernacle. It was there that God would visibly reveal His glorious presence to His people, and it served as the center of the Israelite's society. Eventually, the Tabernacle was replaced by the Temple, which was built in the city of Jerusalem. Every Israelite's heart was drawn to this one spot, because it was the home of God's glory.
But in New Testament times, things changed. God's glory was removed from the Temple and poured out upon the corporate body of the Church through the Holy Spirit. So in our day and age, the place where God's glory dwells is in the midst of the Church.
It's becoming more and more common, even among Christians, to question the place and purpose for the church. Past faults and flawed personalities are often cited as reasons why some are trying to do the Christian life outside the church. Granted, no church on earth will ever be perfect. But at the same time, the collective body of believers is where God has chosen to pour out His glory, and if God has indeed done a work within us, then we'll love it and be drawn to it.
Glorious God, give us hearts that hunger and thirst for your glory and that love your Church as you do.
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?
Scripture
About this Plan
Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, founded in 1985, has grown to be one of the largest churches in the country, and now has nine regional campuses in Florida in addition to the main campus in Fort Lauderdale. The church has established and now operates dozens of ministries to answer the needs for foster care, addiction recovery, and discipleship training. The church's mission is simply, "make disciples."
More
We would like to thank Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale for providing this daily devotional. For more information about the church and other media resources it provides for personal discipleship, please visit www.calvaryftl.org
Related plans
Life Application Study Bible Devotion
Right From The Heart 1-Minute Devotions
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
Celebrate!
Day By Day With Billy Graham
Everywhere I Go: Learning to See Jesus
Daily Encouragement
Praise In the Presence of God
Face To Faith
