Temple

Imagine the most beautiful church you have ever entered. Were you awed by the sheer size? Did the stained glass windows and vaulted ceil

ings inspire you? Or was it more about the worship that was offered and the life that happened there?

Churches and temples are sacred spaces, and the apostle Paul applies that imagery throughout his letters to teach us how God uses believers for His purposes.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. — 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Being good stewards of our bodies is certainly both advisable and biblical, and here in the 21st century, we know full well the things we put into our bodies matter. How we move and use our body matters. But, friend, the real question is, how does our own self worth influence how we take care of ourselves physically? 

The truth is, we take care of the things that we value. So if we accept the love of Jesus, we learn to shed our shame and refuse the lies of the enemy. We start to see ourselves as Christ sees us: sacred because we were blood-bought and holy because He made us so. Without that truth coursing through our minds and hearts, our identity suffers and our self worth diminishes.

But in Christ, our body is a temple for the Holy Spirit as a conduit of His love and mercy. It’s a sacred vessel with a purpose to do the good works set aside for us. We all come in different sizes and shapes, but we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14), meaning God made us with reverence. And if the Creator of the universe made you so carefully, you are indeed beautiful and you have infinite worth.

A reality we live in, though, is that we do live in a broken world, and injury and illness are consequences of The Fall. We will succumb to one or the other in the end, and Christ will restore our bodies. Until then, He gave us only this one life and one body, and we are called to present both as a “living sacrifice” to God (Romans 12:1).

So wrap your arms around yourself, give yourself a hug and remember that if you are in Christ, you are a temple for His Spirit. You are a sacred place and a holy vessel. And you are worth nurturing and protecting.

Let’s pray.

Dear Jesus, thank you for our bodies. Each is unique in appearance but the same in purpose — to glorify you. Give us wisdom in caring for our bodies and help us to remember that they are a temple, they are sacred, and they are lovely. We ask for forgiveness when we have not treated them so and boldly ask for good health for as long as it is your will. We love you. Amen.