Our Lives as Sacred Space

Sometimes when I'm looking for something to write about, I'm drawn to a post I wrote a while ago. That is the case this week. I was pointed back to a post I wrote three years ago about this time of year. Pointed back to it by the "On this Day" function on Facebook showing me things I've shared.

You can find the original post here.

I haven't edited or changed a whole lot this time. As I read it, I was struck by what was written - especially the quote that prompted the post.

Here's the post for today, with some more thoughts I've had since rereading this a couple of days ago.


"Though our bodies and souls may become ravaged, yet we continue to be God's temple - at times a temple in ruins, but a sacred space nonetheless." (Miroslav Volf)

This quote wouldn't leave my mind after I heard it a few days ago. Something about it wouldn't let go. I think because there is such incredible truth in it.

In the Old Testament the Temple was a sacred space. It was carefully built and cared for. It had a place of honour among God's people - Israel. When the Temple was in ruins after Israel had been in captivity, it was important enough that given the opportunity, they rebuilt the Temple. The Temple was God's dwelling place on earth.

We Are God's Dwelling Place

The New Testament tells us that we are now God's temple - that our bodies are the temple of God on earth. Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit was coming for all believers (John 16) and would dwell in them. In Acts, we see the Holy Spirit coming on all the believers gathered before they are sent out. We are now God's dwelling place on earth.

Sometimes life on earth gets hard and things get messy. Our lives can feel like they are blowing up or crumbling around us. And that means our lives as God's temple can be in ruins.

The challenge comes in what we do when it seems like our lives are in ruins.

Will we run from God?

Or will we choose to worship God in the midst of the hard and messy times in our lives? 

Choosing to Worship

When we choose to worship God in the midst of the mess and ruins of our lives, then our lives are sacred space. Sacred space can occur everywhere we choose to worship God in the midst of whatever is going on.

It doesn't have to be a perfect place to be a sacred space. In fact, sometimes the most sacred of spaces is in the midst of the biggest messes or the hardest struggles we've ever faced. All because we choose to worship God in the midst of it.

What is the mess or hard time in your life right now?

Are you choosing to worship in the midst of it?

Where is the sacred space in your life right now? 

How is the rebuilding of the ruins work going?


"Though our bodies and souls may become ravaged, yet we continue to be God's temple - at times a temple in ruins, but a sacred space nonetheless." (Miroslav Volf)