Honor God with Your Body

I Cor.6:11-20

I don’t own my body. It was sold at a slave auction. The Bidder was Jesus Christ and the price offered was his life. Now unlike other slaves on the auction block, I had a choice. I could accept his bid or remain enslaved to my sin. When I accepted the bid, I was accepting a new master. Now he gave me incredible privileges as his slave. He forgave and will never judge my sin. He came to live in this physical body of mine. He guaranteed a custom-built home for me in heaven. What is my responsibility? I must give my body back to Him.

Negatively, I must never let my body be used for sexual immorality. The Corinthians believed that the body and the soul are separate entities. They believed they could worship God in their hearts while they gave their bodies to prostitutes. But Paul explained that this wasn’t true: “He who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body. For it is said, `The two shall become one flesh.’” Paul made it clear that sex is never just sex. Something mystical takes place, knitting the souls of the partners together. The result of this union is that it damages the intimate union with Christ.

Positively, I must ask how God wants to use my body. As I approach the age of 60, what does my world tell me to do with my body? “Lay up treasures in your IRA, retire, give yourself to golf and travel.” But is that God’s vision for this body? Or, what does the culture tell you women to do with your body? The emphasis is on enhancing the physical beauty of your bodies. But how does God want to use your legs and your arms and your lips? Your goal should be to “honor God your body.” Would you ask God to show you what that means?

Next Sunday: I Cor.7