Kingdom Tension Part 13 Devotionals
Day 1: The Original Design: God’s Cosmic Temple
Devotional When we think about temples, we often picture grand buildings or sacred spaces. But God’s original temple wasn’t made of stone or wood—it was creation itself. In the beginning, God designed the entire cosmos as a sacred space where heaven and earth would meet, where His presence would dwell among His creation. This cosmic temple began in Eden, where God walked with Adam and Eve in perfect communion. There was no separation between the divine and human realms. Heaven and earth overlapped in beautiful harmony. This was always God’s intention—to be present with His people, to dwell among them. When sin entered the world, that perfect connection was fractured. But God never abandoned His original design. Throughout history, He provided ways to maintain connection with humanity—through the tabernacle, Solomon’s temple, and ultimately through Jesus Christ. Today, as we begin this journey of understanding what it means to be God’s temple, remember that you are part of God’s grand design to restore that original connection between heaven and earth. Your life has cosmic significance in God’s redemptive story.
Bible Verse
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. – Genesis 1:1
Reflection Question
How does understanding that creation itself was designed as God’s temple change your perspective on your place in the world?
Quote In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. What a fascinating verse. And you really could dig around in that verse for probably your entire lifetime.
Prayer
Creator God, thank You for designing a world where heaven and earth could meet. Help me to see the sacred purpose in Your creation and in my own life. As I move through this week, open my eyes to recognize the ways You are restoring Your presence in our world. Amen.
Day 2: The Perfect Temple: Jesus Among Us
Devotional After centuries of temples made by human hands, God did something revolutionary—He became the temple Himself. In Jesus Christ, heaven and earth perfectly intersected. The divine and human existed in one person without compromise or diminishment. Jesus didn’t just visit our world; He made His dwelling among us. The Greek word used in John 1:14 for “made his dwelling” literally means “to tabernacle” or “to pitch a tent.” It’s the same language used to describe God’s presence in the Old Testament tabernacle. Jesus became the living, breathing place where God’s glory was revealed. When Jesus walked the earth, people encountered God directly. His words were God’s words. His touch was God’s touch. His love was God’s love. In Him, the fullness of deity dwelt in bodily form. This reality transforms our understanding of God. No longer distant or unapproachable, in Jesus we see God coming near, making Himself accessible, revealing His heart through human experiences. Through Christ, God demonstrated His deep desire for connection with us—a desire so strong He was willing to become one of us.
Bible Verse
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. – John 1:14
Reflection Question
How does Jesus’ embodiment of both heaven and earth help you understand God’s desire for relationship with humanity?
Quote Jesus embodies heaven and earth. This is so important. We say this lots of different ways. Like I tell you all the time, Jesus is fully God and fully man. Not 50% God and 50% man. He’s 100% God and 100% man.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for making Your dwelling among us. Thank You for bridging heaven and earth in Your own body. Help me to recognize Your glory in the everyday moments of my life, and to appreciate the incredible gift of Your presence. Draw me closer to You today. Amen.
Day 3: The Torn Veil: Access Restored
Devotional One of the most profound moments in human history occurred when Jesus breathed His last breath on the cross. At that exact moment, the temple veil—a massive curtain separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple—was torn in two from top to bottom. This wasn’t just a coincidental event. It was a divine declaration that the old system of separation between God and humanity was over. For centuries, only the high priest could enter God’s most holy presence, and only once a year. The veil symbolized the barrier sin had created between us and God. When that veil tore, everything changed. The tear started from the top—from God’s side—showing that He initiated this new access. Through Christ’s sacrifice, the way into God’s presence was permanently opened for all who believe. No longer do we need intermediaries or special locations to encounter God. No longer must we stand at a distance. Through Jesus, we have direct, immediate, and continuous access to the presence of the living God. This is the heart of the gospel—not just forgiveness of sins, but restored relationship and intimate communion with our Creator.
Bible Verse
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split. – Matthew 27:50
Reflection Question
How has Jesus’ work on the cross changed your ability to approach God? Are there ways you still live as though the veil were intact?
Quote What Jesus does in his death and in resurrection is he makes a way back for us into the very presence of the living God. Not at a distance, not behind a curtain, but in a very real and meaningful way, a way that changes everything.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for tearing the veil that separated us. Thank You for making a way back into Your presence through Jesus. Help me to live in the freedom of this access, approaching You with confidence and joy rather than fear or hesitation. May I never take for granted the privilege of coming before You. Amen.
Day 4: The Living Temple: God’s Spirit Within Us
Devotional After Jesus ascended to heaven, something remarkable happened. The temple of God’s presence didn’t disappear—it multiplied. At Pentecost, God’s Spirit came to dwell not in a building, but in people. The church, collectively, and believers, individually, became the new temple of God’s presence. This truth is revolutionary. You are not just a person who believes in God; you are a person in whom God dwells. Your body—with all its strengths and weaknesses, its beauty and imperfections—has become sacred space. The same Holy Spirit who hovered over creation, who empowered Jesus’ ministry, now lives in you. This indwelling presence isn’t passive. The Spirit transforms us from the inside out, making us more like Christ. He guides us, comforts us, empowers us, and uses us to extend God’s kingdom. Remember today that you carry God’s presence wherever you go. Your life is not ordinary—it is sacred. You are a walking, breathing temple of the Holy Spirit, a place where heaven and earth continue to meet in our broken world.
Bible Verse
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own. – 1 Corinthians 6:19
Reflection Question
How might your daily choices and interactions change if you consistently remembered that you are carrying God’s presence with you?
Quote You need to live with a little temple awareness that that’s you. You’re that place. You don’t go through life sort of randomly like there’s no purpose or there’s no meaning. We reflect God’s presence in the world around us.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, thank You for making Your home in me. Help me to honor this sacred reality through how I live, speak, and treat others. Remind me throughout this day that I am Your temple, carrying Your presence into every situation I encounter. Use me to bring Your light into dark places. Amen.
Day 5: The Temple on Mission: Heaven and Earth Through Us
Devotional As temples of God’s Spirit, we aren’t meant to be static monuments but active agents of transformation. We are mobile sanctuaries, bringing God’s presence into workplaces, neighborhoods, schools, and digital spaces. Everywhere we go, we create opportunities for others to encounter God. This understanding gives profound purpose to our everyday lives. That difficult conversation becomes holy ground where God’s peace can prevail. That mundane task becomes sacred work infused with eternal significance. That chance encounter becomes a divine appointment where heaven touches earth through your words or actions. God’s presence in us isn’t just for our benefit—it’s for the world around us. We are called to be conduits of His love, vessels of His mercy, and channels of His grace. When we bring peace to conflict, compassion to suffering, or hope to despair, we are fulfilling our purpose as living temples. As we conclude this devotional journey, remember that you are included in God’s grand story. You are a place where heaven and earth meet. Your life matters profoundly because the God of the universe has chosen to dwell in you and work through you. Live each day with this temple awareness, and watch how God uses you to transform the world around you.
Bible Verse
In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. – Ephesians 2:21-22
Reflection Question
What specific environment or relationship in your life most needs the transformative presence of God that you carry? How might you intentionally bring heaven to earth in that situation?
Quote Purposely think about how you might live as a person on mission in the midst of your normal life. Whether it’s in your workplace, in your neighborhood, in your school, on social media, whatever it might be.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for the privilege of being Your temple in this world. Help me to live on mission, purposefully bringing Your presence into every environment and relationship. Use me to create spaces where others can encounter Your love, Your peace, and Your power. May my life be a place where heaven and earth meet, for Your glory. Amen.
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