Dwelling Place

God is not like us, but He loves us. He is God and we are not. We were made to be like Him and find eternal life in Him as He dwells with and in us.

“You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them.”

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭15‬:‭31‬

Do you ever feel like you are alone or unseen? Physically we can inhabit a space where there are no other people, but we never really are alone. God inhabits the heavens and the earth. He is every present and all powerful. It is almost too great a concept for us to understand knowing our own limitations of only being able to be one place at a time.

One of the truths that God wants to teach us is that He is always with us. This is great news but also has implications. God is holy and His dwelling place is to be holy. In this passage in Leviticus, God reiterates this truth. He says that since He is with us, we need to live in such a way that holds on to holiness so that He can inhabit that space. Where does God want to purify an area of your life so that He can inhabit more of it? Is there anything that comes to mind in your life that you know is unholy? Are you willing to allow God to cleanse it? Is there any desire for the unholy that is greater than the desire to draw close to God? Every time we purify our hearts, minds, and souls; we open the door for more of God's presence.

“Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice."

Psalms‬ ‭105‬:‭1‬

We all have a tendency to read quickly. We are taught to read quickly in school. What would happen if we slowed down? Look at each word. David begins by giving glory to God and acknowledging the holiness of God is in the very name of God. It is said that in heaven the angels sing holy, holy, holy. With each word they are praising the Holy One.

Just like your name has meaning, the holy aspect of God's reflects part of who God is. How can our understanding of God's presence and His holiness impact how live? He calls us to be holy like He is. One of the best ways to hold onto a holy heart is to slow down in life and acknowledge his presence. Are you willing to adjust your plans and slow down to create space for God's holiness to permeate your life?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight...Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” ‭

‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬-‭12‬ ‭

Trust in the Lord. It is easy to say and hard to do. Look at the well known passage in Proverbs. Trust with all your heart and submit to God. How good are you at giving God all of your heart and humbling yourself to a place of submission? There is a direct connection between this passage and Romans 10:9 where we are told that salvation comes when Jesus is Lord and we believe He was raised from the dead.

Wisdom invites us to trust then specifically lays out the ways we can be holy in how we trust. Holy trust involves action and a responsive heart. Holy trust is reflected in how we steward our resources, our time, and our talent. Holy trust invites instruction and give thanks to God for revealing any areas of our lives that need discipline to come into alignment with His holiness. Are you open to discipline and direction? Will you freely give? Where is God calling you to demonstrate trust with a step of faith?

“Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given these orders about Jeremiah ...Take him and look after him; don’t harm him but do for him whatever he asks.” While Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him: “Go and tell Ebed-Melek the Cushite...I am about to fulfill my words against this city—words concerning disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes. But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord. ”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭39‬:‭11‬-‭12‬, ‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭

In an incredibly difficult time, the fall of Jerusalem, God steps in and saves both Jeremiah and Ebed-Melek. Why? He saves them because despite how everyone else did whatever they wanted, both Jeremiah and Ebed-Melek remained faithful to God. They demonstrated their trust in him by defying the popular opinions and did the next right thing God called them to do.

How are you influenced by the world around you? Do you ever feel pressure to give in to the ways of the world or where you experience uncertainty? How could handing over those moments of fear, anxiety, or worry to God create more space for His peaceful presence?

“Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god...The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being."

‭‭Acts‬ ‭17‬:‭22‬-‭32‬

Paul experienced such transformation in his life that he got a place of understanding that there is nowhere he could go where God was not with him. Holiness produced in him a heart to spread the good news of God's plan to dwell with all people through creating a holy world made right by Jesus Christ.

Paul says a line that can become a prayer for each of us. What would this sound like? Holy God, Everlasting Father, in you I live and move and have my being. Jesus you are not far from me, but you are always right with me. Holy Spirit you live in me. Even your name implies holiness. Make me holy as you are holy. Discipline and instruct me in any ways I am not in alignment with you. Reveal to me your loving, holy presence and teach me to walk in your ways. Jesus, my Savior, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit in me. Make me holy as your holy that I might experience more of you today.