Glorify God with Your Body
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Key Verse: “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” Selected Scripture: |
THE HEAVENLY Father requires that his chosen people of the present age, the consecrated followers of Christ, be continually loyal and love him supremely. These have been given a “new mind,” which at the present time is dwelling in the old body of flesh. This body is what is referred to in our Key Verse as “the temple of the Holy Spirit,” and it is to be maintained as a holy sanctuary. Every faithful, consecrated child of God is thus considered a “residence” for the Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ, through the indwelling power and influence of the Holy Spirit.
There are certain requirements to be met in keeping ourselves in the proper condition to be God’s dwelling place. As we desire to walk in God’s ways, we must show an appreciation for his greatness, understand our own insufficiency without his guidance, and then show our love and respect for his gracious help. We must look away from our own thoughts and plans, and allow our minds to dwell on the grandeur of God’s character, and the wisdom of his leadings. This will cause us to have a proper reverence for the Lord and his divine arrangements.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Prov. 9:10) The word “fear” in this verse means “reverence.” Supreme reverence for God is one of the key elements needed in order to have his Spirit dwell within us. Since this is considered the “beginning” of wisdom, it implies that as our reverence for God grows, so will our wisdom, especially as we come to know more and more of his character.
Reverence is very important in our dealings with, and service for, the Heavenly Father. This is pointed out to us in Deuteronomy 10:20, which states: “Thou shalt fear [reverence] the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.” In another scripture, we are told, “Fear [reverence] God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of a man.” (Eccles. 12:13) These words show the seriousness of living a life that is pleasing to the Heavenly Father. Having such reverence requires that we keep our heart and motives as pure as possible. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”—Prov. 4:23
Another important point to remember from our Key Verse is that it speaks of our body from the standpoint of a new relationship in Christ. God no longer counts our body as the “temple” of the fallen human flesh and its many weaknesses and failings. Rather, he reckons us as a “new creature … in Christ.” (II Cor. 5:17) To attain this condition, God has made provision that our fallen flesh is “covered … with the robe of [Jesus’] righteousness.—Isa. 61:10
Because we are “covered” with the Savior’s robe of righteousness in no way means that we have nothing more to do. We must live our life in a manner that is consistent with the character of Jesus—the one by whom we have been covered with the merit of his blood. We are to love God with all our heart, mind, and strength. Our time, talents, influence, means, and all that we have, belongs to God, to be used to his honor and glory. We must also “love one another,” and if so doing, “God dwelleth in us,” as the temple of his Holy Spirit.—I John 4:12