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 (New International Version)

Jason M. Alexandre, Voices Against the Grain Devotional Writer

Some of us have been enjoying the exciting National Football League playoff games the last couple of weekends. Both the away and home team has a single goal in mind, which is none other but to win. Though the question raise is: which team has more of a chip on their shoulder? In other words, which team feels the most pressure to win at that particular game? Let me suggest the answer is the home team. I noticed a home fan holding a sign that read “PROTECT THIS HOUSE.” For the fans expect their team to produce a win at home which also means that if the team is successful in winning, then they protected their home turf from outsiders coming in and getting glory.

If we have trusted in Jesus Christ as our personal savior, the Bible tells us that God now resides in us through the Holy Spirit and our bodies are a temple for Him that we must love, honor, and protect. How we use our bodies is extremely important to God. Our minds, hearts, and other body parts he urges us to offer them to him as a living sacrifice each day. For the Bible says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:1-2  

So where do we start in protecting our bodies? For the unbeliever, it starts with a personal saving relationship with Jesus Christ. God’s wrath is still on you because of your sins if you have not trusted in his loving sacrifice of his only Son on the cross. For the Bible says, “very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:7-8

My friend, to reject that love and his gift for you is a tragic mistake. For the believer, we start protecting our bodies, God’s temple by the renewing of our minds in reading His Word every day. The Bible is alive and relevant in every way for every circumstance or situation today. I’m so glad that God gave us this precious gift! For it helps us see through the deceptive and subtle half-truths and falsehoods floating around in the world. His Word is a true guide for us. What we feed our minds will be planted in our hearts and what is in our hearts we will inevitably act out. It is my prayer that our minds and hearts reflect the Word of God empowering us to live our lives and honor our bodies in such a way that is pleasing to him. –Amen.