Honoring God with our Bodies

Lately I have been reading in 1 Corinthians for my daily devotions and something caught my eye. In this chapter Paul is addressing the church of Corinth on their behaviors. Apparently some of the members of the church thought that everything was permissible for them. That what they did with their bodies would have no effect on their spiritual life. However, Paul rebukes them explaining that everything we do with our bodies, effects our spiritual life.

God raised Christ from the dead and he is also going to raise us. If God is going to take the effort to raise us as well, don't you think he values our bodies? Not only that, but our bodies are members of Jesus Christ. After Jesus ascended into heaven, he gave us the Holy Spirit to live within us. Therefore, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are not our own; if we disgrace ourselves are we not also disgracing the Holy Spirit within us? If we confess to be Christians we need to honor God with our bodies. If we are disgracing our bodies with possibly gluttony, immodesty, sexual immorality, etc., we are showing the world that we don't value what God has done for us by giving us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us.

"Do you not know that your body is a temple 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 body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20