May 19 Daily Devotional

Monthly Theme:

These readings focus on the Holy Spirit. In the Old Covenant (or Testament), the Spirit "anoints" one person here and one there to perform a special work for God. In the New Covenant, the Spirit is "poured out" like rain on the whole church of Christ.

Bible Reading:

Matthew 27:45–54

Bible Text:

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? (1 Cor. 3:16).

Devotional:

When Jesus died on the cross, God's finger tore the curtain of the temple "from top to bottom" (Matt. 27:51). The holiest place was opened up. Because Christ died all of us may now enter God's holiest place—even though we are sinners. We don't need a high priest, a pope, a preacher, or some holy person. When we approach God, we need only the blood of Jesus.

The tearing of the curtain also has a second meaning: Not only may we go to God through Jesus; God also comes to us through Jesus. God's earthly address is no longer a building. He lives in people who are cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. He dwells in us by the Holy Spirit. We are God's temple.

The book of Acts tells about the greatest and fastest church growth movement in history. Yet it doesn't say a word about building programs and fund drives. The reason isn't that Christians in those days were penniless or persecuted. The reason is that in the book of Acts God no longer lived in a building of wood and stone. God's dwelling place is now with the congregation—the people!

That does not mean that we may not have church buildings. But it does mean that people are holy, not the buildings in which we worship. And it is much more important that our lives look beautiful to God than that our buildings do.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published in 1994. This edition is copyright by Faith Alive Christian Resources, from whom may be ordered Daylight, the predecessor of Twilight.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this edition of Twilight are from the New International Version

Be sure to read the "Preface" and the "Acknowledgments" by the author.