Read: 1 Kings 8-9
Focus Verse: “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!” “Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.” (1 Kings 8:27 & 8:30b).
Devotion: Solomon, if you knew the temple could not contain God, then why build it? Because, Solomon desires there to be a place for God to fix his eyes and ears, a place the people can pray towards and God will notice. Over the years I think this gets diluted away from what Solomon here believes. People start thinking worship can only be limited to the temple. However, the builder himself knows no building can contain God’s dwelling. The building is more an image, a place holder. For us, Christ has given the Holy Spirit, God dwells within us. The buildings are nice ‘holy spaces’ to be reminded of God, but God cannot and is not contained to dwell in a building. How magnificent then that God chooses to dwell in our hearts.
Pray: LORD may I pray to be reminded You are not tied to a building, You are everywhere, but also LORD may I carry you in my heart daily. Amen.
Additional Scripture: “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28)