Rediscover the Bible for Life

“God’s Portion”

by Dennis Lee

“Moreover, when you divide the land by lot into inheritance, you shall set apart a district for the Lord, a holy section of the land.” (Ezekiel 45:1a)

God was commanding the Israelites that at this future date at the End of Days they were to put aside within the midst of Judah and the holy city Jerusalem, a portion of land for God’s purposes and use. On this piece of land would sit His sanctuary, that is, a place for Him to dwell.

God was reminding His people that just as it had been in the past, so it would be in the future. The temple had always been the heart and focal point of Jewish life, and it will be no different during the millennial reign of Christ.

It is God’s desire to be at the center or heart of what is His to begin with. It was by God’s grace that He gave the Promise Land to the Jews apportioning parcels to each tribe. All the Lord required was that they give Him the center most piece, that is, the piece in the middle.

Further, it was to be a piece that was set aside for Him, which is what the word, “holy”,” means. But it wasn’t to sit just anywhere. It wasn’t to sit outside the city like the Tent of Meeting sat outside the Jewish camp as they wandered in the wilderness. Rather, it was to sit right smack dab in the middle of the city, and hence in the middle of Jewish life.

The Bible says those who believe in Jesus are to offer up their bodies as holy sacrifices, that is, set apart for God’s use. (Romans 12:1-2)

The Bible also says that we are servants of God, which means that everything we have belongs to the Lord. (Romans 1:1).

Further as believers the Bible says our bodies are the temple of the living God; temples of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 2 Corinthians 6:16)

So what does all this mean to you and me?

The Lord wants to be at the center of our lives. He doesn’t want to sit on the outside like He did in the Tent of Meeting. God wants to be right smack dab in the middle of our lives.

As servants we don’t own anything; rather it all belongs to God, and we’re called upon to be good managers of what He has given. What God asks for in return is that we give Him the best; not a portion a piece, but the best; the center most piece of our lives.

And the centermost piece of our lives is our hearts. God wants our hearts and lives to be holy, set apart for Him. So have we given it all over to God, or have we been encroaching on what is His, doing our own thing our own way and defiling His holy temple within us.

To counter this possibility pray, “Lord, I give you my all. Come and dwell in me and use me as You will.”