Together - Daily DevotionalSample

The Church – the House of God

Reading: 1 Tim.3:14-16

Key Verse: “you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” v.15 NKJV

Paul writes to Timothy, the pastor of Ephesus, advising him about the necessary qualities of church leaders.  In verse 15 Paul calls the church the “house of God”.  Many times the word house refers to a physical structure such as the house of Simon. Literally it means “a dwelling” – where someone lives. But where someone lives is their home so the phrase “house of God” could be understood to mean “home of God”. Where is God at home? Where does He dwell and live? – in the church!

This concept is consistent with Eph.2:21-22 where the called out ones are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. God makes His home in the church. His personal presence fills the church with His love, glory and wisdom. Many say that they do not believe in God but they have never been to His home!

Our challenge is to fill our house of God with the things that make Him feel at home. Things like love, unity, forgiveness and so on. The churches in Rev.2-3 lost God’s presence because they had replaced love with duty, passion with formalism and faithfulness with disobedience. Where they failed we must succeed!

Prayer: Holy Spirit please help me to be one who fills the church with love, passion and obedience