ESOCS Devotional 14 January 2022
TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 6:12-20
MEMORY VERSE:
“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”1 Corinthians 6: 20 KJV
Some people, in their arrogance, justify their sinful behavior. However, all things are lawful if they are used for their proper use and in accordance with God’s ordained purpose and laws (1 Cor. 10: 23). Christians are to live in subjection to both civil law and God’s law (Rom. 13:1-7). Something may be lawful, but not expedient or profitable in reference to Christian behavior. The Christian must exercise discipline and self-control in his life in order to work that which is good towards others (Gal. 6:10). Just like Apostle Paul, every believer must bring himself under discipline in order to keep God’s will (1 Cor. 9:27). Everyone must know that food and drinks that are now necessary to preserve life will not be necessary for the preservation of the spiritual body that is yet to come.
Since the body is the gift of God for our dwelling on this physical earth, then we should lawfully use it to His glory, not for our own self gratification. The body should not therefore, be used to satisfy the lusts of the flesh through gluttony or fornication. As Christians, our bodies are the extension of Christ in this world. Our bodies thus belong to God as a part of the spiritual body of Christ (1 Cor. 6:13; 12:27; Rom. 12:5; Eph. 5:30; Col. 1:18). In committing the act of fornication, one takes the body of Christ and lays it with a harlot. Through the act of fornication, therefore, one desecrates the law of God in reference to marriage and sexual intercourse within the bounds of marriage. The oneness that one establishes with the Lord is greater than any sexual relationship with another person. Therefore, Christians should guard their membership with Christ by keeping themselves away from fornication (Eph. 4:4-6).
The Holy Spirit indwells the Christians, as they behave after the manner of the body of Christ. Therefore, those who commit fornication or live after the lusts of the flesh rob God of their own bodies by defiling the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit after claiming to give the totality of their lives to the Lord (Rom. 12:1-2 ; 4:7).
We were bought with a price. The price was the sacrificial offering of the incarnate Son of God (Acts 20:28; Gal. 3:13; Heb. 9:12; 1 Pet. 1:18; 2 Pet. 2:1). Since the price was high, then Christians should behave after a manner that is worthy of the price that was paid (Rom. 12:5; Eph. 4:1; Phil. 1:27). Being redeemed, therefore, you do not belong to yourself. You belong to the One who redeemed you from a lifestyle of sinful behaviour.
Your duty, therefore, is to glorify God in your body and spirit.
- Identify those actions or inactions that do not give God glory in your body and spirit. Deliberately do away with them.
- Pray God to give you the grace to glorify Him in your body and spirit.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Isaiah 63:15-19; 64:1-5; 45:1- 25; Luke 6:1-11; 6:1-11
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ESOCS Devotional 14 January 2022
