Scripture to Read: Romans 12:1
We know from yesterday’s devotion that God used Paul to “urge” all of us by His rich mercies and that urging is to present our bodies as living and holy sacrifices. As followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, we need the constant reminder that our bodies no longer belong to us. When we surrendered to Christ as Lord, He became Lord of all of us, including this earthly shell in which we live. But how often do we think we can do what we want with our bodies? We believe we have “the right” to eat what we want, drink what we want, say what we want, think what we want, watch what we want, and of course, the list goes on. But God tells us that we are to present our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice. God tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” So, our body is not ours to do with as we choose. We love to make excuses for not taking care of God’s temple and then we wonder why we suffer some of the physical consequences that we suffer. Not all suffering is diminished, but too much of our suffering is brought on because we don’t take care of God’s temple as we are commanded. We must glorify God through His temple, our body.
Challenge & Application
· What did God teach you today about your body that you have not considered in a long time?
· What changes need to occur in all areas of your life so that you are glorifying God through His temple, your body?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!