Recently, my friends and I were discussing the Ark of the Covenant. Our conversation consisted of comments like "Can you imagine traveling with the Spirit of God like that?" "I can't begin to imagine carrying the Ark..." Then a friend reminded us that the Spirit of God dwells in us. Oh, yeah.
Since then, I've been contemplating my body and how I treat it. Not just physically, but spiritually and mentally as well. How do I honor God with my body? It is in the way I live my life.
Romans 6:19 reads: "...Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness." The Greek word for slavery is "doulos" (pronounced doo'-los) meaning a "slave (literally or figuratively, involuntary or voluntary frequently therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency): bond, servant."* We were once slaves to our bodies, needing to gratify every carnal desire, but not anymore. Jesus died in order to pay for our sins. He paid the price for us to free us. Now that the Spirit of God dwells within us, our old desires have been replaced with new desires to please God, to live a holy life.
What does a holy life mean? "holy" means "...morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated: saint."* Believe it or not, this is possible by listening to that still, small voice inside known as the Spirit of God. Holiness comes from obedience to the Word of God. We cannot attain holiness without God. Of course, the only way to get to God is through His Son Jesus.
If we live our lives recognizing, on a daily basis, that we are the temple of God - the dwelling place of His Spirit, I wonder how different we would be? Would we be kinder to others and to ourselves? Would we be healthier physically and mentally? Would we be the salt Jesus talks about? And before anyone thinks I'm judging them, I'm not. These questions are directed to me as well.
What are your thoughts?
*Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
3 comments:
My thoughts are that 2 scoops of Snickers ice cream is not good for the temple of God. I liked the phrase "needing to gratify every carnal desire." Ouch.
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This is a great reminder. As you said, "oh, yeah." We tend to forget but what an awesome picture you portrayed as I imagined the priests of old carrying the Ark. Thank you. I thought this was excellent.
My mom used to be a smoker, back when it was sophisticated, a million years ago. When whe was trying to quit she said she would imagine Jesus sitting on her heart,choking from the billowing smoke every time she took a drag off a cigarette. That image is so simplistic, but it really sticks with you.
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