A “through the Bible” devotion from 1 Kings 8.
“Will God indeed dwell on earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house which I have built” (1 Kings 8:27).
So why build a temple? Why build a church? Why make it look like your God lives in a box?
We naturally have places for things. Countries have capitals where the government is. Kitchens have cabinets where we stack the plates. Houses have shelves where we line up our books. Medicine cabinets hold all our pills.
So why wouldn’t you have a place for your God?
For many people, walking into church makes you feel closer to God. For some that’s a good feeling. For others, it’s ominous.
But some feel close to God walking down a trail through the woods. or looking up at a starry sky. Or holding an infant. Or reading a bible.
Bottom line: the box is for people, not God. The building is a place to gather and to be together. It’s a place to learn together, cry together, pray together, and celebrate together. If we could do it in our homes, we would, just like the early church. But when the Holy Spirit does his thing and the church grows, we just might need a bigger place to gather. It could be the beach. Or an amphitheater. Or a sanctuary.
No you can’t confine God to a box. But he’ll be there, wherever his people gather.
Waite for it... 