Relevant
Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 3:10-17; 2 Corinthians
6:14-18; 7:1; Ephesians 2:11-22; 1 Peter 1:14-19; 2:9
“You are the light of the world… let your
light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory
to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14–16 ESV).
In a damaged and
often dark world, the church is like the guy with the flashlight in a power
outage. No one would think it is okay to hide the flashlight or smear it with
mud to hide the light. The right thing to do is share.
We, the church,
are a living sanctuary, a place from which the light of God’s glory and
presence is made known. This is who we
are when gathered and when dispersed.
What does it mean to be a living
sanctuary?
We are the place
in which God has chosen to dwell. The worship of God is no longer confined to a physical space but
takes place everywhere we are. The Holy Spirit dwells in us as Church, and we
are always in him and members of one another.
We are the place
where the presence and glory of God are made manifest. The sanctuary of God is no longer a
tent or stone but flesh and soul. The church goes where we go. As we come
together for worship and discipleship, we proclaim to God and one another that
he is great and he is here. As we move among home, work, and play, we display
and proclaim his holiness and goodness.
We are a holy
place for others. We share the
light of God’s glory and presence, knowing that sharing is more important than
making ourselves comfortable.
How
might we behave like a living sanctuary?
Let us
…help one another grow toward holiness as
we worship God and disciple one another.
…serve others at home, work, and play and carry God’s light into dark places.
…gather in ways that welcome and honor
Father, Son, and Spirit.
…disperse in ways that make God’s glory
and presence clear.
…support one another as we carry God’s
light into the world.
Let us be a
church that joyfully shares the flashlight.
