As Sent Ones, Disciples show
love to themselves because
they are temples of God
Are we supposed to love ourselves? You won’t find a bible quote for it. The bible denounces self-love (2 Timothy 3:2) and self-importance (Philippians 2:3). But God does advocate a sense of worth ("you are worth more than many sparrows" – Matthew 10:31).
If you agree with God, the end result is a sense of self-worth. But what about loving oneself? As followers of Jesus, we’re taught to care for others "as we care for ourselves" – clearly a form of love. Jesus uses the word love to express such actions when He quotes a Leviticus command to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18).
Your Biblical Identity in Christ
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Sexual Immorality
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.
~ Apostle Paul
12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 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; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
• In Christ, My body is a temple for the Holy Spirit, whom I received from God. I am not my own, but was bought at the price of Jesus’ life. I therefore honor God with my body.
Pondering Point
Today we hear Saint Paul’s call to honor the Lord with our bodies. He goes so far as to say that "you are not your own, but were bought with a price", alluding to Jesus’ costly death. This teaching from God flies in the face of today’s talk of “its my body and I can do whatever I want.”
As with all things, we are to honor God above ourselves – body included. You were bought – not by a man (at least not by a mere man), but bought by God – the God-man Jesus Christ.
Some of you may be familiar with the hymn lyrics penned by Isaac Watts, so titled by its first line.
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride
Where every realm of nature mine
My gift was still be far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all
~ Songwriters: Isaac Watts / Lyn Murray
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross lyrics
© Universal Classics & Jazz A.d.o. Univers,
Integrity's Hosanna! Music,
Word Music, Llc, Wordspring Music, Llc
Chris Tomlin's version is called "The Wonderful Cross". Here are the first few lines of that song:
When I survey the wondrous Cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain, I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride
See from His head, His hands, His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet?
Or thorns compose, so rich a crown.
~ Songwriters: Chris Tomlin / J.D. Walt / Jesse Reeves
The Wonderful Cross lyrics
© Capitol Christian Music Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Prayer
Review Watt's hymn "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" or Chris Tomlin's version, "The Wonderful Cross".
Read it. Meditate on it. Find an audio copy and listen to it. Sing it. Pray it.
Use it to connect with Father God and offer once again to honor God with your body.