Podcast (daily-devotion): Download (3.7MB)
[expand title=”Devotion Text”]Today’s passage takes place on the day that Solomon dedicated the great temple—the place where Israel could go to meet with God. Solomon began his prayer of dedication by saying, “LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way” (1 Kings 8:23 NIV). Then Solomon asks this question:
1 Kings 8:27-29
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day, that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place.
God says, “My name shall be there…”. In Hebrew the word, Hashem, means, “The Name.” A name represents who a person is and what they do. The heavens and earth cannot contain God, yet for his people, he provided a physical place to come and worship him. Today, Hashem, The Name, by his Spirit, resides in every believer. Remember Solomon’s question: “But will God really dwell on earth?” The answer is, “Yes!” God the Son came to this earth and lived among us. When Jesus returned to the Father, he sent his Spirit to reside in every believer. We are the living, breathing temple of God. By the Spirit’s empowerment, our job is to represent Hashem—The Name—well.
Talking Points
- Thank God for his Spirit who lives within you. Thank him for dwelling with you on this earth.
- Ask God to let his Spirit take control of your thoughts, emotions, words, actions, and reactions today.
Father,
You are my God. You are omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. There is no name besides you. Your Son’s name is above every name. And one day every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. Until then, help me represent you well during my days on this earth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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