Day 13 - A Spiritual Church

Today’s Scripture

“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

—1 Peter 2:5 (NIV)

“...‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

—Zechariah 4:6 (NIV)

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”

—Revelation 2:4-5 (NIV)

Reflect on the Word

What makes our places of worship sacred? What’s so special about gathering in a sanctuary or living room or coffee shop or school cafeteria? Where’s the value? Is it the place? Is it the people? The value of our worship gatherings is found in the One whom we gather to worship.

The church is the very presence of Jesus in a people. This means we, the church, are not just a group of people with common beliefs. We don’t just meet once a week because we enjoy the same style of preaching or the same worship songs. We are spiritually united by the presence of Jesus in our lives and in our midst when two or three of us gather in His name.

Together, we are “living stones” being built into a spiritual house—a house that is not a sanctuary, coffee shop, living room or cafeteria. In this spiritual house Immanuel, God with us, dwells.

Prayer + Contemplation

1___ In 1 Peter 2:5 we are called a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices to God. What spiritual sacrifices do you make to God?

2___ Take a moment to consider the gift it is to know and love our Savior. Let’s give thanks to Him for being Immanuel, God with us.

3___ Pray for the church universal, that it will continue to grow across the globe and that we, its living stones, will continue to be built up.