Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.
I Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price, therefore honor God with your body.
The words of Paul call us to be "living sacrifices" and "temples of His Holy Spirit, which does mean keeping watch over how we care for, and treat our bodies. But I do believe that God is taking it just one step further, to care for the spiritual health of our hearts, His temples. This is where He wants to dwell; showing us His will -"His good, pleasing and perfect will." His greatest desire is to show us all that He wants to be in our lives, but only we can offer or volunteer our temples to Him; to use as His perfect will for our lives and all that He intended for us to become.
The toughest question asked in this week's study - If your body is the temple (dwelling place) of the Holy Spirit, then God is always with you! If God was physically walking with you through this next week, what is one thing you would change? Talk about bringing me up a halt! I read this question to my family and my son's response was, "You've got to be kidding! Only one thing?" I understood what he was thinking!
There were many different answers that came to my mind, but I soon became a bit overwhelmed as the number grew. I even made a list, but what came to mind and stood out the most was, I could never change them all; the past mistakes, wrong attitudes, judgemental words. But what He spoke, and the greatest truth that I gleaned from the study this week was that I was brought with a price! I do not have ownership over my temple, but I can change how I view His presence in my life. I can accept His presence as a tool to be used in the cleaning process, but He will not leave me alone to do it all myself, but provides a means to get the job done.
He created us (Gen 2:7), provides for us (Matt 6:25-30), has proved the value of our human bodies (Phil 2:6-8), is concerned over us (I Cor 15:42), and has given us His Holy Spirit to dwell within each of us (I Cor 3:16-17). He has shown His concern for us from Genesis to Revelation. Don't you think that we should share His concern; knowing that we are His workmanship, bought with a price, and part of His good, perfect and pleasing will.
I pray that you will know and believe that you were bought with a price, worthwhile and that you have a temple worth the dwelling of His Holy Spirit!
Sheryl
P.S. I would love to hear what spoke the most to you throught this week's study!
1 comment:
Hi Gals! I am unable to come to the studies because of work, but I have been doing the study at home. I wanted to share with you all... this lesson definately caused me to grind my teeth a little, but I realized that I can't put off taking care of my body any longer! If I did, I won't have much of a body when I'm older! So I went out a got a gym membership! I'd love to share more about the gym membership adventure with you, seeing how I haven't consistently worked out in YEARS... ;) and hopefully I will be able to come to an event or study one of these days. I just wanted to say how encouraged I am to know that you all are meeting together for fellowship and to be filled with good news from the Lord. Remember that He LOVES all of you and desires to spend time with you. That's such a wonderful truth to know! Please contact me if you need prayer for anything, I'd love to pray for you!
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