Advent 2024 : December 21

“16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”

– 1 Corinthians 3:16

There was a show on TV not too long ago called “Undercover Boss” that always ended with a grand reveal. The CEO of the company, all dressed up as a new employee, stands up at a staff meeting to reveal his/her true identity. Of course, most of the people in the room immediately gulp in regret. They knew that they didn’t show this so-called “fellow employee” a great side of their work ethic and immediately wished to have those moments back. It was a horrible thing for this boss to suddenly be around to see the way they acted each day.

Sometimes, I’m sure we have a similar feeling about God’s presence with us. We’re reminded by a pastor in a sermon or a comment by a friend (or perhaps by an advent devotional) that God has been with us for every moment of our day and we immediately think of the moments we wish we could have back. Somehow the presence of God becomes something we dread. And yet, the nearness of God to His people has been the high-point of His promises to them from the very beginning.

We were created to enjoy fellowship with Him and when we come to the end of it all, if we’ve trusted in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins, we’ll be with Him forever (Revelation 21:3). So the teaching of the New Testament, that God’s Spirit dwells in His people, just as He dwelt in His holy temple in the Old Testament, isn’t scary news at all, it’s an incredible and shocking gift.

We’re never alone in our grief, in our struggle, in our questions, in our frustrations, and even in our sin. God is with us, truly with us. Not because we’ve proven ourselves to be all cleaned up and therefore deserving of His presence, but because by the death of His Son, Jesus, and through our faith in Him, every sin we have ever committed (and will commit) has been paid for. By the mercy of God, all of His people have been made into His holy dwelling place so that we might be WITH Him today, in this very moment. So today as you ponder God’s presence with you, don’t shudder to think of how disappointed He might be with you. Rejoice at the thought that despite how much you truly don’t deserve His favour and blessing, He has come to call you, along with all of His people, His holy home.

PRAYER: Father, thank you for sending your Spirit to dwell in me. I know that my life isn’t clean and pretty. I make mistakes all of the time, and Father, I repent of those things. Help me to walk in the newness of life. But at every step, would you remind me that it’s not my behaviour or ability to forsake sin that has earned your favour, but that the work of Jesus has washed me white as snow and made me a holy temple, fit for the presence of your Spirit today. Amen.