Tag: Bible

The House of His Dreams

Iris Godfrey

Image  “And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:4-5 NASB

(The photo attached is a very special fall gift for our front steps from one of our marvelous neighbors. We are so blessed to be so included in a neighborhood. Who would have thought – a busy street in a Central New York city. God is awesome!)

This passage will change our lives if we will really mediate on it and allow it to sink into our being. It is about us. God’s choosing and God’s loving us. We come to Him and find that He has been waiting all along to receive, to bless and to allow us to experience His heart. Here He calls us “living stones.” You see, God has been building a house all along. We find illusions to it all through the Old Covenant. Let me quote a book I am reading.

“The Bible’s story begins by telling us about the world where the story takes place. In the Bible, the world is the real world that we live in, the world that God created. But the Bible describes the world in a particular way. In some places, the Bible describes it as a house. Talking to Job from the whirlwind, Yahweh asks: ‘Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth! Tell me, if you know understanding, Who set its measurements, since you know? Or who stretched the line on it? On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? [Job 33:4-7]  Earth and especially mountains, are set on ‘foundations’ (Deuteronomy 32:32; 2 Samuel 22:8, 16; Psalm 104:5) just like the foundations that hold up a house. Blue sky is stretched out above like a ‘tent curtain’ (Isaiah 40:22). Pillars support the earth (Job 9:6) and heaven (Job 26:11). When God first appears in the Bible, He is building a house.” A House For My Name, by Peter J. Leithart, pp. 43-44

In the New Covenant in Ephesians and Hebrews, statements made are also about His house. Then there are the ones in 1 Corinthians 3 & 6 about us being  the temple of the Holy Spirit. Now here in 1 Peter – more of the same. 

You, my precious believing friend, are the house of His dreams. He is not after a house of brick and mortar, but the heart and spirit of the one He created to “being with” – you and me. We are the “living stones” that are being built up as a “spiritual house” for this holy priesthood that offers the living sacrifice of life, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

Such a high calling. Such a marvelous concept to grasp and to ponder. Such a gift of love and empowerment in becoming. Truly our God is awesome!

Released to Live!

Iris Godfrey

Just a bit of personal sharing to begin our post today. I am praying and working toward being able to blog four times a week. I ask my followers to join with me for that. I recognize this blog as a very legitimate media expression through which to teach and share what I believe the Lord would have me share. Therefore, diligence and time are needed to be effective. My daily schedule varies, so I am working to be consistent on the days where blogging is possible. Thank you for understanding, and if you follow me by clicking on the “follow me” button, then the blog will be delivered into your email in-box and you will not have to check the blog to see if something has come in. Thank you all for reading and praying. Now to the Word! 

“If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:17-19

The Holy Spirit, through Peter, is addressing life-style – not salvation. If you will take a few moments and read the entirety of the chapter, you will see he is already assured these folk were born-from-above and now need to be encouraged in the life-style of their time on the earth. If we get confused on this point we will misunderstand the passage.

There are two things in this passage that are extremely important to note. Peter is addressing people who have been redeemed (bought back – a slave term in the 1st century. We could just as easily translate it “purchased.”) by blood – not silver nor gold. Not with things that will perish along with the earth as we know it to be, but with the eternal blood of the son of God. 

Now God, our Father is Spirit (John 4:24), but when Jesus became man – that is a permanent position for Him. He is ascended, indeed, but he remains the God/man. Jesus could only have blood if he entered into our reality and became human for His is the only blood in heaven. Blood is needful for life here, but not there. Now that divinely infused, life-filled blood is what has made it possible for us to be His. This is a mystery which defies all logic and reason. One cannot reason it out, but can receive it by simply trusting Him that it is so. It is not a mind thing, but a spirit thing to enter into this reality. Now we are not only human, but also products of divine infused blood so now we are God/man also for we are as He is in our world. (1 John 4:17c) 

That being so, we are now His children and have every right to call Almighty God our Father. He is our parent and we are His children. These are spiritual realities. In the natural we honor our parents, care for them and treasure them. The way I keep our home is a reflection on how my Mother kept her home. I am so like her in so many ways. I am definitely like my Dad when I get a Bible in my hand and I preach much like he did. Yet, the parentage of God in me (and all of us) far surpasses the human parentage. I am Almighty God’s daughter, not by silver nor gold, but by blood – the precious, unmeasurable valuable, blood of Christ. 

That being so, my life-style is called to reflect that parentage and that price in every dimension. Peter first addresses our attitude – one of “fear.” We have trouble with this in our world for it brings up all kinds of negative thoughts. Let’s get rid of those and look at the reality of this word. It does mean “fear,” “respect,” “reverence,” but the best translation is “fear.” He is trying to get us to take this very seriously. We are to reflect Him — much more than any earthly source or origin. Father God is the reason we are living — period. That being so, we are to be very aware of our heritage in every aspect of our life. 

This is not a thing of legalism. It is the supernatural outcome of a supernatural parentage and a supernatural birthing avenue – the blood of Christ. Our actions will be judged – not our souls. Paul writes “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)

It is a matter of stewardship. How are we using the gifted time of life here? Is it reflecting the grace, mercy and goodness of our Father? This is His call and encouragement. In His empowering and ability, our lives radiate His kindness and love. Our words encourage and ignite hope and freedom in others. We become as He is. In this reality, we are released to live!

A high call for a lowly life-style. Yet, empowered, gifted and released to become. Yes, Lord and thank you!