Good morning, brothers and sisters! I want to tell you a story that I think will really resonate with you.
It was a hot summer day, and a man was walking through the streets of Jerusalem, looking at all the marvelous and intricate buildings that had been built over the centuries. As he strolled through, something caught his eye. It was a small gold plaque on the side of a temple. It read “This is the work of the Temple.”
He was intrigued at this simple but powerful statement. It made him think about how our lives are like a temple, a place of worship and reflection. We have to build upon it, and care for it, just like the Temple of Jerusalem. And just like the gold plaque on that Temple, there is gold work to do on our lives.
Brothers and sisters, I want to share with you three key ideas that will help you understand the gold work of the temple.
First, gold work of the temple means taking care of our spiritual wellbeing. Just as we must take care of our physical bodies, we must also take care of our spiritual bodies. We must daily seek out ways to grow in our faith and deepen our relationship with God. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” We must also make sure that we are engaging in activities that bring us closer to God and enrich our spiritual life.
Second, gold work of the temple means doing good deeds for others. We must remember that we are all sons and daughters of God, and we must show love and kindness to all that we encounter. As Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven”. We must all strive to do good works as an expression of our faith in God.
Third, gold work of the temple means working hard to build God’s kingdom on earth. We must work hard to spread God’s message of love and compassion to all corners of the world. We must remember that God has given us talents and resources that we must use for His kingdom. As Jesus said in Matthew 25:14-30, “For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away”. We must use our talents and resources for God’s kingdom and work hard to build it on earth.
Brothers and sisters, just like the gold plaque on the Temple in Jerusalem was a reminder of its importance, so too must our lives be reminders of the importance of doing God’s gold work on earth. Let us all strive to do our part in building God’s kingdom on earth!
The gold work of the temple is not just about building walls; it’s about building bridges to a brighter future!
My Daily Devotional by Reverend Danny Rhoades