All we require in this service are absolute courage, absolute loyalty, and absolute integrity.”
–Paul I. Wellman (The Comancheros)
“Or 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? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
–1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV)
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What vows have you made to God? Have you ever promised Him something and failed to keep the promise? Then start doing so. A failure does not negate the vow. Start fulfilling your vows now. Don’t wait. God is faithful, God answers prayers, God will not neglect His promises; therefore, we need to recognize our responsibility in being faithful to Him and going to Him with our needs. Let’s look at the first part of Psalm 65.
1 — Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion; and to You the vow shall be performed.
2 — O You who hear prayer, to You all flesh will come.
3 — Iniquities prevail against me; as for our transgressions, You will provide atonement for them.
4 — Blesses is the man You choose, and cause to approach You, that he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your holy temple.
5 — By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us, O God of our salvation, You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of the far-off seas. (NKJV)
It is time to pay our vows. Troubles and trials for once may be tranquil; take this opportunity to pay your vows. God has forgiven our sins; He shows us that He is the God of our personal lives. He has answered our prayers. He has forgiven our sins though they may have been many. Verse 3, in the NLT puts it this way, “Though our hearts are filled with sins, you forgive them all.” God does not pick and choose what sins to forgive. The cross took care of them all.
When I read verse 4, three things come to my mind. The first, of course, is the Jewish Temple. It was always a thrill when a Jewish person was able to go to the Temple and worship. The second thing that comes to mind is the Temple in the New Jerusalem. There we will actually see the Lord Himself and give praise in that heavenly Temple. Perhaps what strikes me most is that we should be praising because we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. We often do not realize, nor think of ourselves, as the Temple of the Holy Spirit. The person of Christ lives in us, therefore, we should be praising, fulfilling our vows, and basking in the wonderful joy of His love.
Think of that “personal temple.” What did you do yesterday in regard to the realization that you are the Temple of the Holy Spirit? That is why Paul states that everything we do should be unto the Lord (Colossians 3:17,23) for as we walk through this world we are showing forth the “temple.” Because we have hope, we should be showing and living that hope in front of the world. Despite the evil in the world, we have hope that Christ is with us, that He has redeemed us, and that He is coming back to take us to be with Him in glory.
“Saints below, with heart and voice,
Still in songs of praise rejoice;
Learning here, by faith and love,
Songs of praise to sing above.”
–Needham
–1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV)
—————————————–
What vows have you made to God? Have you ever promised Him something and failed to keep the promise? Then start doing so. A failure does not negate the vow. Start fulfilling your vows now. Don’t wait. God is faithful, God answers prayers, God will not neglect His promises; therefore, we need to recognize our responsibility in being faithful to Him and going to Him with our needs. Let’s look at the first part of Psalm 65.
1 — Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion; and to You the vow shall be performed.
2 — O You who hear prayer, to You all flesh will come.
3 — Iniquities prevail against me; as for our transgressions, You will provide atonement for them.
4 — Blesses is the man You choose, and cause to approach You, that he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your holy temple.
5 — By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us, O God of our salvation, You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of the far-off seas. (NKJV)
It is time to pay our vows. Troubles and trials for once may be tranquil; take this opportunity to pay your vows. God has forgiven our sins; He shows us that He is the God of our personal lives. He has answered our prayers. He has forgiven our sins though they may have been many. Verse 3, in the NLT puts it this way, “Though our hearts are filled with sins, you forgive them all.” God does not pick and choose what sins to forgive. The cross took care of them all.
When I read verse 4, three things come to my mind. The first, of course, is the Jewish Temple. It was always a thrill when a Jewish person was able to go to the Temple and worship. The second thing that comes to mind is the Temple in the New Jerusalem. There we will actually see the Lord Himself and give praise in that heavenly Temple. Perhaps what strikes me most is that we should be praising because we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. We often do not realize, nor think of ourselves, as the Temple of the Holy Spirit. The person of Christ lives in us, therefore, we should be praising, fulfilling our vows, and basking in the wonderful joy of His love.
Think of that “personal temple.” What did you do yesterday in regard to the realization that you are the Temple of the Holy Spirit? That is why Paul states that everything we do should be unto the Lord (Colossians 3:17,23) for as we walk through this world we are showing forth the “temple.” Because we have hope, we should be showing and living that hope in front of the world. Despite the evil in the world, we have hope that Christ is with us, that He has redeemed us, and that He is coming back to take us to be with Him in glory.
“Saints below, with heart and voice,
Still in songs of praise rejoice;
Learning here, by faith and love,
Songs of praise to sing above.”
–Needham