Bought With A Price

Monday, April 24, 2017

Honoring God in Our Bodies

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

¹⁹ 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.

Ephesians 2:21-22

in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Romans 12:1

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:5

you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Devotional:

As a mom, I am raising a boy and a girl. The question of bodies and boundaries are constantly coming up as we leave the toddler years. It has surprised me how early and quickly the need to gently teach boundaries and appropriate, God-honoring choices with our bodies in a variety of ways. From covering our bodies, to preserve our modesty, to when kissing and holding hands is appropriate, the depth of the need is early and at times feels weighty. I desire that my children learn these things without shame, and also that I don’t choose to address it in ways that are so “creative” that they veer from pointing to their plumb line, God’s Word and Truth.

The main tool in teaching my children is and will always be my model and example. From choosing to address my physical health, to making a conscious effort to dress modestly, to honoring my husband and the Lord with how I interact with members of the opposite sex, I just want to show them a way of navigating life that, while it is not always common, is possible without being completely WEIRD.

In addition to body boundaries, the need to honor God in how we care for our bodies is an important part of training. Food choices, fresh air and exercise, and plenty of sleep are God’s prescription for our bodies to be in optimal performance and health. This is a fairly new journey for my husband and I, as we both were raised in homes where these focuses were a bit off base. However, God provides wisdom as we choose to allow Him to be the One to grow our family tree.

I pray this day that we as parents will be renewed in our enthusiasm to embrace this sometimes challenging and truly upstream aim.

Prayer:
Father, thank You that You have ordained me (and my spouse) as the models of Your desire for how we conduct ourselves in our bodies. I ask that You would blow fresh on our home by Your Spirit that we might have the wisdom and the courage to address any issue of body care, body boundaries, and nutrition as You reveal and lead.

I ask that I would truly be an example of healthy food choices, exercise, modesty, and healthy boundaries.

I lift up my child(ren) today and I ask that You would intervene in (area of need or concern). I give this situation to You by prayer and ask that You would teach me to leave it at the foot of Your Cross and allow You to guide me, step by step, moment by moment, as we walk it out.

I lift up my husband to You today and ask that You will infuse into him the life and purpose You have ordained. I ask that You will guide him to father and to model to our children what is needed. Give him wisdom, and remove anxiety or fear or complacency that might interfere with his God-ordained position.

In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.