Transformed: Physical Health - Day 1

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. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

Our culture tells us that your body belongs to you. It is your property to be used however you see fit, as long as you don't hurt anyone else. As a result, your bodies become idols of worship, and we use them to meet our own felt needs for pleasure, happiness, or success. Thus, our culture tells us that our bodies are for the purpose of self-worship. 

The Bible radically confronts this kind of thinking about your body. According to God, your body is not your own. It belongs to God. "You were bought at a price." He created your body, and he has redeemed your body. He paid a high price for your body by sending his only Son to the cross. Jesus had a bodily death and a bodily resurrection so that you might have a bodily redemption.

The fact that your body belongs to God has profound implications. As followers of Christ, we reject our cultural belief that our bodies are for self-worship. However, this doesn't mean that we ignore the importance of caring for our bodies. We may not be owners of our bodies, but we are certainly stewards of our bodies. We steward our bodies because they are temples designed to worship God. This means that the primary function of your body is worship. Paul further develops this temple imagery in Romans 12:1 (NIV) when he says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and 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." We are called to offer our bodies to their Owner for his glory and his purpose.

 Next Steps. Write down your answers to these questions. 

What did you hear?

What do you think?

What will you do?

Now talk to God...

Work Cited

Warren, R. (2014). Daily devotions: Day 7. Transformed: How God Changes Us. Rancho Santa Margarita, CA: Saddleback Church.