Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. (Rom. 12:1)
CENTURIES OF CHRISTIANS have debated whether we are primarily physical beings or spiritual beings. Physical bodies we understand, but what does it mean to have a spiritual body?
In our culture, so much emphasis is placed on the physical body and its beauty. Yes, God did make us beautiful, but is that our only purpose? Of course not. God created these bodies to hold the spiritual treasure of an indwelling Christ. Our bodies are the physical containers for the Holy Spirit. So we may not use them any way we please. We are to regard our bodies as holy and pleasing to God and use them for worshiping Him.
We worship God when we care for our bodies and use them as they were meant—to serve God. When we abuse them through neglect, indulgence, or addictions, we cannot properly worship God with them. This passage goes on to tell us how we worship with our bodies through prophecy, teaching, encouraging, gifts of service, leadership, and mercy.
Although we might sometimes wish for a different physical body, consider whether God has given you exactly the body you need for the form of worship to which you have been called.
Give God your body in service and worship today.
Kathy Bence lives in Idaho with her professor husband, Phil.
