Written by Pastor Mark Driskill
October 6, 2011

Read Ephesians 2:18-22

“In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

All religions really are the same. Fortunately, the Christian faith is not a religion (it is a relationship). All religions, for example have a series of steps to take in order to achieve their particular goal whether it be heaven, paradise, Nirvana, etc. But Christianity says you cannot achieve heaven. It must be received as a gift by faith.

Another example, and perhaps even more profound is seen in today’s passage. All religions invite you to come to a particular dwelling place to experience God, whether the place be a temple, a church, a mosque or whatever. But Christianity, while it may have churches to gather in, invites you not only to come to a dwelling place, but to become a dwelling place of God himself. In our passage today we are told, “In him you are being built together as a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

When a person comes to faith in Christ they do not join a religion about Jesus so much as they become a dwelling place for Jesus. Why do we spend so many millions of dollars on grandiose sanctuaries when God has made it clear that He does not dwell in temples made with human hands, but rather in his people? Together you and I are being built to become a living container of divine power and love.

What a concept! I cannot get my brain around this idea that God, not only wants to know me and be known by me, but also to dwell within me. What an awesome thought! As you go out today remember that in Christ you are never alone. Even in your darkest moments you carry the real presence of God himself in your very being. His life giving Spirit is woven in and out of every cell of your being. He feeds his thoughts into your subconscious. He infuses his energy into your work. He sings his love and peace into your Spirit all throughout the day.

Oh Christian rejoice today in his presence. It is not a feeling. It is a fact to be accepted and lived out by faith. When you share your faith today, don’t fall into the all too easy trap of arguing religion. Don’t linger long over religious debates. Rather tell everyone about the transforming love and power of Jesus Christ and how it has made a radical difference in your life. After all it isn’t Christianity that makes a difference. Rather it is “Christ- in- uity” that will turn your world upside down.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten By the Word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw
and
www.facebook.com (to group “begotten by the word”)
Begotten By the Word is a ministry of Helping Hands Christian resources-Evangelism Outreach
www.hhcr05.org
(Feel free to copy in any way that will bring glory to God and further his kingdom.)