Day 20 - Does God Need Us?
- Pastor b.Side
- May 19
- 3 min read
“However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: ‘Heaven [is] My throne, and earth [is] My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the LORD, or what [is] the place of My rest?’” - Acts 7:48-49
Serving the LORD can sometimes be counterproductive. When we engage in activities that appear pleasing to God or beneficial for His purposes, we might approach our work as if God “needs” us to do these things. We may see our involvement as valuable, helpful, and essential. While we should seek the LORD’s wisdom and power to carry out works that exhibit our gratitude and affirm our faith, we must serve the LORD with humility and understanding, maintaining a proper perspective on God’s position in relation to our efforts.
“The Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands…”
In the testimony of Acts 7:48-49, the Bible records the words of the first Christian martyr of the church age – a man named Stephen. As he addressed the Jewish religious leaders about the flaws of their religiosity, Stephen contrasted the beauty of the temple that Solomon built with God’s transcendence. The people assumed that God was exalted because of the beauty of the temple. God’s goodness was FAR more glorious than the beauty of that temple, no matter how glorious the temple seemed to the people. Scripture shows that God condescended to dwell in the temple, uniquely manifesting as a cloud that rested above the Holy of Holies. That cloud did not represent the true essence of God’s glory. It was not the full splendor of God’s majesty. He transcends His creation, including the spectacular things people make. God is ALWAYS greater than human efforts, even when individuals seek to exalt His name through their contributions.
“As the prophet says…”
To support this truth, Stephen quoted Isaiah 66:1-2. The Old Testament scriptures provide insight into the nature of God’s transcendence. Heaven is God’s throne, indicating that He is seated, established, and supreme in that realm, which is FAR above our material universe. In contrast, “earth” is God’s footstool. The reference to “earth” could mean either Planet Earth or the entire universe. The fact that “earth” is contrasted with heaven, the eternal plane of reality, implies that the whole universe is God’s personal ottoman! God is so transcendent that He can rest His feet upon the infinitely expanding universe that human beings cannot even measure.
“What house will you build for Me…”
Understanding the size and scope of God as He described Himself in Isaiah 66:1, what is the value of human effort? How can we contribute anything of worth to Him when we cannot even comprehend His creation, which is FAR beneath Him? God’s transcendence demonstrates that He is entirely good in every way, on His own. He is already supremely exalted above all things. Can we do anything to enhance His goodness or elevate Him further? Instead of attempting this, we should heed the wisdom that Stephen offered to those governed by religious tradition: repent of our self-righteousness and humble ourselves before the transcendent God Most High!
Prayer for today
Our heavenly Father, help us remember who You are as our HEAVENLY Father. You are exalted above all things, and unless You are the motivator and manufacturer of our works, they are worthless to You. Thank You for condescending Yourself through the connection we have in Your Son, to make fruitful use of us by Your Spirit. Help us show our appreciation for Your goodness through humility, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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