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‘All things are lawful for me’, but not all things are beneficial. ‘All things are lawful for me’, but I will not be dominated by anything. ‘Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food’, and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that whoever is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For it is said, ‘The two shall be one flesh.’ But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:12-20)
It's the New Year and for the next two weeks or so the gyms will be full of people who resolved to do something for their bodies. This passage seems to address that as well; but it goes deeper than looking good. It's about righteousness and spiritual living. The problem Paul is addressing seems like one the Church would never face, but it does and has since Paul's day; sexual immorality. It seemed there was a problem with members of the church in Corinth who believed that the spiritual and the physical never intersected and as long as one stayed "spiritual," one could do whatever one wanted. And in this case, their lust for prostitutes continued because they felt they were not being affected spiritually. Wrong! Paul says God will destroy our bodies at our death and we, who are right with God, will be raised up with God. "The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body." Paul knows that any physical relationship we have unites us spiritual as Genesis says, "The two shall be one flesh." The only union we should seek is that we can have with Christ. Every sin we commit affects us spiritually. Thus, Paul's famous statement, "Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, with you have from God, and that you are not your own." We were bought with a price and we should glorify God in our bodies.
The next time you look in the mirror say to yourself, "This body is God's dwelling place. May all I say, think, and do, bring honor to God." It's short and simple, but powerful, for it affects how we see ourselves and how we should live. Any negative thoughts about appearance or images we have engraved in our minds should flee and allow the positive, loving image we have before God, because we belong to God.
PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for loving me and for buying us with a price. Thank You for leading us away from sin. May I be reminded today and all days, that my body is Your temple. Let it be a holy place and a place of worship and service to You. This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! If your temple needs attention, now is the time to address it, but start with the spiritual first!
Eradio Valverde
Dear friends, thank you for your prayers yesterday for Rev. Michael Dobbs. His surgery went well; after about 8 hours it was all over, his bladder was removed and now the healing begins and an adaptation to a new style of life begins as well. Pray for Mike's recover. Also, our sister Martha Jo Whitt underwent successful knee replacement and she needs prayers for her recovery. We understand that Bill Weaver is not doing well. He is in a hospital in San Antonio and may be coming home with hospice care. Please pray for Bill and Christine.
