A body temple
| 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. (1Corinthians16:19-20) |
How many of us are positive about our bodies?
Paul identifies our mortal fleshly bodies as the temple where the Holy Spirit lives.
Serving God more effectively means that we check what shape we are in.
- Are we in good shape physically?
- Do we have a good self-image?
- Are we getting enough sleep and eating healthy foods?
- What about exercise?
We tend to fall into the trap of seeing our bodies as the "taxis of our souls." But my body is more than a taxi. It is eternal. We will not be disembodied spirits in eternity. Jesus is the "first fruits" of the resurrection. His body could be touched and hugged, he could eat and the disciples could touch his scars. Yet, He appeared in different places and behind locked doors - clearly not imprisoned by space or time.
Our bodies will be renewed and made whole in the resurrection. We will have bodies like His.
This has significant implications in the sense that our bodies matter to God and should therefore be looked after in the sense of stewardship (looking after what God gives us) and worship (we can glorify God with our bodies.)
Refurbishing and renovating our spiritual lives may therefore be a matter of appreciating that a healthy body means a healthy mind and a happy heart. Getting into shape requires discipline and we should strive for it. It will have benefits for our relationship with God too.
