DRAWING NEAR
July 5
Union with Christ
"You also, as living stones, are being built up as a
spiritual house" (1 Pet. 2:5).
Christ is your life, and you are an integral part of what He is
accomplishing in the world.
The Jewish culture of Peter's time centered on the Temple in
Jerusalem. Apparently drawing from that picture, Peter used vivid
language to teach that God no longer dwells in an earthly, material,
temporal house, but in a spiritual house. Christ is the cornerstone,
and the spiritual house He is building is comprised of individual
believers.
That analogy introduces us to the first spiritual privilege
Christians enjoy: union with Christ Himself. That makes Christianity
utterly unique among religions. Buddhists are not said to be in
Buddha. Muslims are not in Muhammad. A Confucianist is not in
Confucius. Only Christians are united with and receive their
spiritual life from the object of their worship.
When you came to Christ, the living stone, you also became a living
stone yourself. You possess His resurrection life and draw from His
spiritual resources. That's what Peter meant when he said that God
"has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order
that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature" (2 Pet.
1:4).
Ephesians 2:19-22 adds, "You are no longer strangers and aliens, but
you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household,
having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole
building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the
Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of
God in the Spirit." Christ is the cornerstone of the church, built on
the foundation of biblical truth, which is the divine revelation
given through the apostles and prophets. Rejoice in the privilege of
being united with Christ and learning from His Word!
Suggestions for Prayer:
Thank God for selecting you as one of His spiritual stones. Seek His
wisdom and grace in living each day to His glory.
For Further Study:
Read Acts 17:24, 1 Timothy 3:15, and Hebrews 3:6, noting what they
teach about God's spiritual house.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Acts 17:24
24 "God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord
of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.
1 Timothy 3:15
15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought
to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the
living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Hebrews 3:6
6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we
hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the
end.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase@wowway.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
http://www.gty.org/Gospel
http://www.gty.org/
http://www.nwbible.org/
There is a living God. He has spoken in His word. He means just what he says, and will do all that He has promised. - Hudson Taylor
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