Today’s 333 Devotional: “God’s Habitat”

A habitat is a place of residence. So where is God’s habitat?

In the Old Testament God commanded Israel to build a tabernacle, a place for the Ark of the Covenant to dwell.

“And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them … And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat.” (Exodus 25:8, 22a)

But God doesn’t dwell in man-made temples or buildings. God doesn’t reside in a particular nation, or mountaintop. And while the Lord is everywhere, nothing can hold Him.

“Will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built.” (1 Kings 8:27)

God has chosen, however, to make His habitat within the lives those who have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. Belief in Jesus has brought this about.

“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” (John 14:23)

Believers are now temples of the Holy Spirit.

“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own.” (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Individually we are God’s dwelling place, but God also dwells in the midst of His church. Together we as the church, the body of Christ, are His dwelling place. Jesus said were two or three are gathered in His name, He is there (Matthew 18:20).

We as the church are therefore the stones that form God’s holy temple.

“You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5)

Let’s therefore glorify God in our lives, and in the church, showing the world that God dwells with us.