Are you a rebel by nature? At times perhaps? After all, it's your life and you're going to live it to the best of your ability.
Do you grumble and complain when things don't go your way?
Or, are you just the opposite? You think so little of yourself you don't feel you're worth anything at all. How can anyone like you, let alone love you? You're grateful for just the scrapes of attention someone would show you.
Paul was writing to the rebels in this chapter, but his message is really for all of us:
Notice:
"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; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Paul is specifically addressing the sin of sexual immorality, and we all know that it is SIN, and it's probably just as prevalent today as it was then. It's dangerous and wrong, but there's a deeper message Paul is conveying here.
You are precious to God!
Whenever we purchase something of great value, we take extremely good care of it. Whether it’s an expensive piece of jewelry, a new house, or car. I'm sure we all can remember when we finally bought something that we had to make
a huge sacrifice for in order to obtain it, which is why we take such great care of it. Right?
The price we were bought with is found in 1 Peter 1:18–19: “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God” (NLT).
Therefore, when Paul says, “You were bought with a price,” he means each of us were purchased and paid for with the precious, sinless, blood of Jesus Christ, for Jesus Himself, told us that He came to give His life as a ransom for us in Matthew 20:28.
Recently I had a chance to leave my home and travel to one of the poorest, filthiest, most dangerous places in this country to walk among and love on some of the world's neediest people. I will never forget that time, and as I walked the streets of this neighborhood; stepping over garbage and filth, seeing all the signs of an unwelcoming neighborhood, I was overcome with the thought of all Jesus left in heaven, and the astronomical price He came to pay for you and me!
Paul also tells us that “We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10) And,
You are precious to God!
AND God created our bodies for a purpose—to bring glory and honor to Him (6:20). This should be the guiding principle for all that we do.
We only have this one body with which to serve and honor our Lord and Savior for all He has done for us. How do you plan use it for His glory?
Blessings,
sue
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| Our Value is Found in Him Alone |