Weekly Devotional, December 4, 2023
“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.” - Jeremiah 2:13
This week kicks off the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Most Christians I know don’t give much thought to Hanukkah, which falls during the same season as Christmas. Why celebrate a “festival of lights” when we should be celebrating the birth of Christ…right?
Well, I beg to differ. The story behind the celebration of Hanukkah occurs in 1 & 2 Maccabees, a historical book found in what’s called The Apocrypha. The Maccabees were a family from the hill country of Israel who confronted the powers of an evil taking over their land. After years of bloody battles they were victorious over their enemy and recaptured their holy Temple, which at this point had been grossly desecrated with pagan idols and sacrifice. What followed what a thorough cleansing of the Temple and its rededication back to God. This is what the word ‘Hanukkah’ means, dedication. Therefore, the powerful theme of rededication of God’s property back to Him for His holy purposes is the relevance in this holiday, for both Jews and Christians.
When the holy Temple of God was destroyed for the second time, in 70AD, Paul’s letters shed light on a ‘new temple’, a temple that would not be a building but rather…a living temple that would house the presence of the Spirit of God. And this was represented two ways: personally and corporately.
For those who have given their life to Christ, we personally become “the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). From this point forward, we are no longer our own. Our will must surrender to His will. Our mind becomes the mind of Christ. Our resources are now stewarded for His glory. And our bodies, they are no longer for us do as we will. We are now to offer our body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Him (Romans 12:1).
Corporately, we are God’s fellow workers, building on the foundation of Christ. As His corporate body, we are a holy temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17), being built up into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:4-5).
As temples of the living God, perhaps we use Hanukkah as a time to take inventory of our own condition and then cleanse our temple, rededicating it back to the service of the Lord - before Christmas arrives. Perhaps, dedicate yourself in this season to the process of refinement, a refinement that leads to purity and holiness. I encourage you to read 1 Corinthians chapters 3 and 6, and 1 Peter chapter 2, for further reflection.
Maybe ask yourself some questions:
Where are my blind spots concerning this temple?
Am I mixing the holy with the unholy?
Where am I neglecting my spiritual service to Christ?
How is my body serving as a living sacrifice to God today?
What steps can I take in this season to begin the process of rededication?
Our blog series on Hanukkah begins soon and I encourage you to read through the story and reflect on how it relates to Christians today. Discover the beauty of holiness this special holiday can bring you as we await the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus.
God Bless You,
Carole
A song for you: click here to listen to "Temple"
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