As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him – 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.
I Peter 2:4
You are being built into a spiritual house for God. As a believer, His Holy Spirit dwells in you, and He is building your spiritual house so that His Spirit fills every room in your house. Peter tells believers that the purpose of this house as a holy priesthood is to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Christ. What does it mean to be a holy priesthood?
The priests in the Old Testament were in charge of the worship in the temple. They made sure that the Holy Place was kept in order by keeping the lamp stand lit, the 12 loaves of bread on the table, and the holy fires kept blazing. The High Priest was the only one allowed in the Holiest Place to offer sacrifices for the sins of the people. He entered into the Holiest Place once a year, and a rope was tied around him in case the glory of God struck him dead and they needed to pull him out. He was our representative offering our worship and sacrifice before God. Jesus, our High Priest, has made a way for us to approach God’s throne. His death on the cross tore the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holiest Place so that we can enter the tabernacle of worship from the outer courts, through the Holy Place and into the Holiest Place as believers: When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of calves and goats but he entered the Most High Place once and for all by his own blood. (Hebrews 9:11-12)
Believers are the new priesthood, the place where Christ dwells offering sacrifices of worship to God. We are being built into a spiritual house that expands with His life and is consumed with His love.
Are you willing to surrender your life to God’s plans of building you into a spiritual house? Are there any rooms in your house you would rather leave the door closed and not have the Lord clean and renovate for His use?
Remember, you are called as a priest to offer sacrifices of praise and worship to God, and He desires you to worship Him with all of your heart, soul, strength and mind. Don’t withhold any rooms from His Presence. Invite Him in to build a house for His glory.
Heavenly Father, Build my life into a place where Your Presence dwells. I open the rooms of my heart to You so that my life will be a place of worship. In Jesus’ name, Amen
