With Our Bodies – by Sarah Troxel

[Note: My daughter, Sarah, is now a college student. Many of you enjoyed her messages about urban ministry this summer. I told Sarah she is welcome to write messages anytime. This is one she sent me this week.]

I will never forget a day in class last semester when my short and sweet, sixty year old professor stood up and danced. Why did she do this? To prove to us the value of the incarnation. A school dance was planned for that night, and I had been questioning all day if I could glorify God in any way by attending. My professor answered this for me when she said, “God entered into a human body and became united with the entire human race. By this act, the incarnation, He redeemed our bodies and our human acts. Even dancing. Therefore, dance tonight for the glory of God and the gratitude of His redemptive work.” My mind was blown.

Today I was reminded of that discussion when I read:

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples 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 bodies.”

The incarnation and redemptive work made you and me into Christ’s very own possessions. He did not only purchase our souls; He purchased our bodies. And He has decided to make His very own home inside of each of us believers. This incredible mystery comes with a great responsibility. In the same discussion Paul writes, “‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say – but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything,’ – but I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12).

Because our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, every bodily act matters. Running matters. Physical affection matters. Posture matters. We must seek the best benefit to the Holy Spirit’s temple in these acts. We must also allow the Spirit to be the master of the temple. We shall not submit to gluttony, lust, or sloth. None of these are what our bodies were made for. We were made to embody Christ.

The redemption of our bodies pours value into our daily lives here on earth. As we sit down at the dinner table, as we shower, or as we hug a friend, we can remember that in the incarnation, Christ did each of these. And He is currently doing each of these as He lives inside us.

Last night I was talking with a nine year old girl. “We can’t see Jesus anymore. We can’t have dinner with Him or hold his hand,” she said. But the truth is that we can. In fact, Jesus is eating dinner with millions of people every night. He is holding millions of hands as millions of feet walk along the earth. Jesus was embodied in a single human two thousand years ago. But today He is embodied in each of you. May we become more aware of Him in every moment. And may this glorious truth spur us to honor God with our bodies.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Oct 30 Lamentations 2:20-3:66; Hebrews 1:1-14; Psalm 102:1-28; Proverbs 26:21-22
Oct 31 Lamentations 4:1-5:22; Hebrews 2:1-18; Psalm 103:1-22; Proverbs 26:23
Nov 1 Ezekiel 1:1-3:15; Hebrews 3:1-19; Psalm 104:1-24; Proverbs 26:24-26
Nov 2 Ezekiel 3:16-6:14; Hebrews 4:1-16; Psalm 104:25-35; Proverbs 26:27

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