Healthy Biblical SexualitySample

Sinning Against Our Own Bodies

1 Corinthians 6:13 says: “The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.”

What we do with our bodies must matter.

If you were driving someone in your vehicle, would you throw crumbs all over your car’s interior? Would you make it as dark as possible for the ride?

Of course not.

Isn’t it sad, then, that we put so much filth and darkness into our bodies, which are the temples of the Holy Spirit?

We carry God’s Spirit within us but are often apathetic towards having clean bodies both physically and sexually.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “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.”

If you give me money for a guitar I’m selling, who would own the guitar at the moment of the transaction? You do, of course, since you paid the price for it. But what if I refuse to give you what you paid for? I’d be breaking the law.

When Jesus died on the cross, He paid for our bodies. We are then instructed to honour God with them…because, after all, they’re His.

Earlier, in 1 Corinthians 6:18, it says: “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.”

Wait a second, though. Wouldn’t doing drugs and eating like a glutton also be sins against our own bodies?

Well, this devotional isn’t talking about health consequences but rather about sex and our bodies through a lens of valuing our spiritual covenant with Jesus. The value God places on our bodies and sex explains why sexual sin is the only sin against our own bodies.

Sex matters to God.

And so do our bodies — to the point that He paid an incredibly high price for them.

How can you honour God with your body today?

Prayer: Lord, show me how to honour You in every part of my life today, including with my body.

Reflection: Spend some time meditating on that phrase — “to honour God with your body.” Take note of what comes to mind as you reflect on that today.