Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – January 25, 2019
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. 1 Corinthians 6:19
The Holy Spirit has such a high regard for our body that he makes His residence within us. Our body, His temple, is His holy habitation. We wouldn’t desecrate a church with unholy influences, nor should we mistreat the temple of the Holy Spirit with unhealthy influences. Indeed, it is our spiritual responsibility to nourish and care for what God owns and allows us to inhabit. We seek to make wise decisions in our physical care plan since our soulmate, God’s Spirit, lives within us.
A plan to care for our body protects us from abuse and neglect. Yes, God’s pinnacle of creation is fearfully and wonderfully made, evidenced by its resilience to restore and heal itself. Though elegantly created, its lifetime is brief with only the soul living on into eternity. So in the meantime we are called to give intentional physical care to our body. The Maker of our marvelous self expects us to love our body as He does. We care for ourselves so we can care for others.
“Husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church” (Ephesians 5:28-29).
What does it mean for us to feed and care for our body as Christ does the church? For one, He cherishes and nourishes the church, His Body, with what is necessary for its growth, holiness and happiness. In the same way we love our body by submitting it to a healthy diet and regular exercise. Hence, we grow to love, respect and enjoy ourselves as God does. So, our physical care plan can include healthy meals at home, a workout partner and a competent, caring physician.
Perhaps a fast is necessary to refocus on the Lord and flush toxins from our system. A break from solid food can be a solid remedy to break us from its addictive influence. Food is for our physical nourishment and emotional enjoyment, not to become an idol over consumption. What consumes us controls us. So, perhaps we start with a juice fast for three days before we tackle a water only fast for a week. A fast can recalibrate our physical and spiritual desires with God’s will. Learn more about fasting from my friend Chris White.
“When you fast, wash your face and beautify yourself with oil, so no one who looks at you will know about your discipline. Only your Father, who is unseen, will see your fast. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:17-18, The Voice).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, my heart’s desire is to nourish and care for my body as Christ does for His body the church.
Application
Consider fasting from food after lunch on Saturday to dinner on Sunday.
Related Reading
1 Samuel 7:6; Daniel 1:15-16; Psalm 139:14; Matthew 4:2; Acts 14:23
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