Becoming a temple of God

As I look at this passage and the words David spoke to Solomon and the leaders of Israel, it makes me think of what God would say to us about becoming his temple

First, God would tell us that he chose us to become his temple.

David talked about how God chose him to be the king.  That of all the tribes of Israel, he chose Judah; from all of Judah, he chose David’s family, and from all of David’s brothers, he chose David.

And in verse 6, David quoted God’s own word to him, saying,

Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.  (1 Chronicles 28:6)

In the same way, the Bible teaches us that God chose us, even before time began, to be his sons and daughters.

And he chose us not only to be his sons and daughters, but to build a temple out of our lives for him.

Paul puts it this way,

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

In love he  predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. (Ephesians 1:4-6)

Another thing to note in this passage is that God had detailed plans for the temple.

David said,

I have in writing from the hand of the LORD upon me, and he gave me understanding in all the details of the plan. (1 Chronicles 28:19)

In the same way, God tells us that he has a plan for us.  David would later write,

All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:16)

Unlike the plans God gave David for the temple, we don’t have written details for our lives in terms of who we will marry, where we will live, or anything like that.

But we do have his written word on his general will for our lives.  And as we seek him and follow his word, he’ll lead us into his more detailed plan.

As David told Solomon,

And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.

If you seek him, he will be found by you. (1 Chronicles 28:9)

And so David charged his son, and God charges us:

Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you.

He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.  (1 Chronicles 28:20)

Paul puts it this way,

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:12-13)

As I’ve mentioned before, building our lives into the temple of God is not something we have to do on our own and with our own resources.  God has given everything we need to be his temple.

He’s given us his Spirit living within us to counsel us and guide us.

He gives us his power to change.

And he constantly works in us so that we can become more like him.

So be strong and courageous.

Don’t get discouraged when you fail.

God searches your heart.  He knows you want to be the temple he’s called you to be.  And he will help you.

Just continue to seek him.