I have been to amazing churches all over the world. Huge cathedrals in Europe, with stained glass windows and massive pipe organs. Chapels out in the country, with beautiful views of God’s creation. And churches right smack in the middle of the city that offer quiet in the middle of the busyness. I’ve also been to some tiny churches, churches in huts or temporary shelters, or in homes. The truth is that Church is everywhere, and it is always beautiful — because the Church is not a building. It is people. It is US.

When we receive Christ and become a new creation, one major way that we are transformed is that the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. This means our bodies become temples of the Holy Spirit, as it says in 1 Corinthians 6. God doesn’t dwell in buildings made by human hands, but rather in the creations He loves most: His people.

On the surface, this can seem a little frightening. What does it mean, to have the Holy Spirit in us? We are still ourselves, but God lives in us. This means He is always with us, in every situation, guiding and comforting us. It also means that we have purpose: we are to glorify God in whatever we do, because we are walking homes of His. We need to serve Him with our bodies, and His Spirit will guide us in making right decisions. He will also empower us to share His Good News with the people around us. Isn’t that exciting?

This is Luis Palau.