Joh 10:22-23
Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch.
Beginning 1st December 2010 through the 9th, is the feast of Hanukkah or the ‘Feast of Dedication’. The focus of the feast is the lampstand or menorah which lit the Holy Place in the temple at Jerusalem.
The lampstand symbolized the presence of God and it was therefore to remain lit always.
Lev 24:2 "Command the children of Israel that they bring to you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to make the lamps burn continually.”
At the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, Jesus walked in the temple. But the Jews did not recognize His presence. 4000 thousand years earlier, YHWH walked in the garden of Eden, but Adam and Eve hid from His presence (Gen.3:8).
In the new Covenant of Jesus’ blood, we are the temple and the Holy Spirit is the lampstand. 1Jn 1:5 “....God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”
Are we responding as we should to His presence?
Are we conscious that we are the temple?
Does Jesus have full access to every part of our lives or are there areas that we keep hidden? Do we try to hide from Him?
Rev 2:5 “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”
The truth is, the ‘lampstand’ (presence of YHWH) can be removed from the ‘temple’.
Moses said, “For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth." (Exo 33:16)
If the Holy Spirit is not in us then we are no different than the unbeliever.
Jesus said, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” (Joh 14:23)
Do I love Him?
Am I keeping His Word?
Am I a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit?
Heavenly Father, I rededicate my life to You today. Forgive me for going astray in my heart following my personal desires and plans. Let the light of Your presence burn even brighter in me dispelling all darkness and causing me to walk more accurately in Your Word by Your grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.
