The Temple of the Holy Spirit

Read 1 Corinthians 6:12-20.

Not too long ago, a young man was tasked with the job of cleaning out the home of his deceased uncle. “All that’s left is garbage,” he was told. But there, in the basement, was a stack of old comic books worth $3.5 million! Had he not recognized the value of those comics, they could have ended up in a landfill, and this poor young man would have remained just that—poor.

Christian, you and I have something far more valuable than a stack of old comic books. The Bible says that if we know Christ, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 6:19). The believers in Corinth were living as if their bodies were nothing more than trash to be tossed in a dumpster when they died. They were caught up in sin—and proud of it.

This should not be for believers in Christ! The body of the believer is designed by God for even more than biological function—as amazing as this aspect of His creation is. Our bodies are designed to serve God not only in this life but for all eternity. To be sure, our bodies will be glorified bodies; they’ll be changed, resurrected, heavenly bodies. Nevertheless, we will serve God for all of eternity bodily.

Paul makes it clear that our bodies are important for the age to come and for our daily living now. Why? Because our bodies are spiritual temples where the Spirit of God resides. Indeed, our bodies are not our own; they host the very presence of God and are of precious worth to Him. And if we are temples of God, then we must honor God with our bodies; we must obey God and His Word with our entire being. Our bodies belong to the Lord, so what we do with them matters. Let’s use them, not for sin, but for the glory of God.

Prayer: Father, help me to remember that my body is a temple for Your very presence. May my hands and feet bring You honor and praise as I live righteously by Your Spirit. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.