Good afternoon. Heres todays devotion from BBH: --------- Church Life ...the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth - 1 Timothy 3:15 Paul makes three astonishing claims for the church, in rapid-fire succession, which we would do well to remember. First, the church is the house of God. Dont let the wonder of that statement be robbed by your possible familiarity with it. God lives in his church! Just as he set up residence in the tabernacle and temple in the Old Testament, God now resides in his church in a special and glorious way. Nowhere else on earth -- mountaintops, golf courses, or beaches -- can claim the same. Second, this is the church of the living God. Each word is important here: of because it is his church, not yours or anyone elses; the because there is only one true God; living because he is eternal and powerful and vital; God because thats who he is. Third, the church is the pillar and ground of the truth. Paul is not implying that the churchs traditions are on the same par with Scripture, as some teach. Rather, he is affirming Jesus own promise concerning the perpetuity (continuation) of the gospel-affirming, Christ-proclaiming body of Christ. The gates of hell itself cannot prevail against this God-inhabited, Christ-empowered organism. How does Pauls three-fold assertion affect you? Does it inspire you to know that God lives in his church, that he is just as unique and energetic as ever on our behalf, and that the truth of the gospel will be perpetuated until he returns? If so, then let your labors in, and faithfulness toward, the kingdom of Christ reflect the greatness of these guarantees. baptistbiblehour.org
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 21:35:37 +0000