Walk of Life – Day 16 – March 2021 – The C R O S S of Calvary
Sanctuary at the Cross
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. I Cor 3:16,17
Christ paid the greatest price…the price of His life on the Cross. Precious blood flowing from Emmanuel’s veins not only sets the sinner free but makes him a living sanctuary who will be part of His beautiful bride one day.
I remember as a kid when parents used to give us 10 rupees and ask us to get some snacks at the canteen. It used to feel like heaven. These occasions would be very rare not like today. With the same 10 rupees I wonder what you would get today. The purchasing power changes from time to time and from country to country. The Lord Jesus did not purchase us with silver or gold or US$ or Euros but with His very own blood shed on Calvary’s cross. Its power is eternal…never changes. When you buy something, it is yours. I remember how we used to fight when we were kids “This is mine. Mummy bought for me” Imagine when we buy it ourselves. It is our possession. It belongs to us. No one else has any power over it unless I sell it to them.
The Lord Jesus purchased us with the greatest price one can give at the Cross…His own blood. How much more we need to realize that we are no longer our own but we belong wholly and completely to Him. The Lord has bought us to be His church…His priced possession. That’s what I’m doing when I say, “I give myself to you.” I’m saying, “I’m no longer my owner, my master, my shepherd. You are my Owner, Master, Shepherd, Father, my treasure, my wisdom, my hope, my source of fullest and lasting pleasure. I renounce finding all of that in me. I look for it now in you, because I am utterly yours.”
I am also saying ” Lord, my hands, my feet, my thoughts, my entire being is no longer mine but yours.” We all say this quite often. Just imagine your purchased a laptop and there is a virus in it and it just does not do what you say. You keep typing something but what appears on the screen is something else. How frustrating. If you purchased that locally, your disappointment would be not that much, but think you asked a friend to purchase it abroad and bring it to you then it gets very upsetting. The more the price and effort, the more the disappointment.
Today, when the Lord looks at us I wonder what he will be thinking. We have all the time in the world to browse on our mobiles, to have virtual friends, to be active on social media, but how much time do we spend at the feet of Christ. When He looks at the church with He purchased, how grieved the Lord would be. He purchased us to be His representatives in this world…to shine our lights so bright that people will see our good works and glorify the Father in heaven. He purchased His church so she will testify the Gospel to the world around her that many lost souls will find Christ.
Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock” (Acts 20:26-29).
“Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion for the world is to look out; yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good; and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.” ~Saint Teresa of Avila
Its time to introspect. Are we involved in the Lord’s work? Are we doing His service? Are we true to the master? Or are we holding pride, hatred, anger, and jealousy in our hearts and destroying the church of God and our own selves? Are we in search of worldly gain, worldly fame, power and honor in this world rather than in the world to come? Are we seeking to serve the master alone? Or are we men pleasers? Christ’s precious blood was shed so He can present a blameless bride. Him that destroys God’s body, He will destroy, what a warning. Be prepared for the coming of the Lord Jesus!!
Lord prepare me, To be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, Tried and true,
And with thanksgiving, I’ll be a living
Sanctuary for you
