“‘All things are lawful for me,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be dominated by anything. ‘Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food’—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, ‘The two will become one flesh.’ But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 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 6:12-20
There is no separation of self in Christ. He who made and saves our souls has also made our bodies in His image, that in the flesh we might also be saved, sanctified, and bring Him glory. His Spirit dwells within the sacred, pulsing temple. Maybe because of our sin inheritance, maybe because of the difference between tangible flesh and intangible mind, we can mentally separate ourselves into compartments. We deem part more worldly and part more worship-worthy. We assign the flesh to be ruled by nerve impulses, the spirit by conscience. But God created, desires, and is worthy of all of us. In and by His Spirit we can yield to His triumphant rule over the whole self.
“I appeal to you therefore, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2
The offering of our body works in tandem with the surrender of mind and will. One can neither serve nor worship Christ without the other. Outstretched arms indicate an outstretched heart, open and desiring to be fully His and to do His full will. Whenever we resist welcoming Him in, or yielding up our inclinations and impulses to His sway, simply behold Christ upon the cross. His perfect body became a temple broken on our behalf so we might be whole forever. Can we spread wide our arms and open our hands in offering? Will we identify completely with death of self? (John 4:24)
What contemptible practices or selfish indulgences keep our bodies unprepared as Christ’s abode? What need we offer up for removal or cleansing? How can we practically, reverently glorify God with our bodies?
Good Father, stimulate in me love for You with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength, that I daily prepare and present my body as a living, holy sacrifice for Your filling, using, and glory.
As the rain and snow 