“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20)
Have you ever heard someone say, “My body is a temple,” usually in connection with eating right or exercising? That sounds good on the surface, but the implications of that statement reach far beyond physical health. Paul is talking about the total surrender of your body, heart, and mind—not for your own well-being but for the glory of God.
We love the fact that God is ours—and we should. It means we have direct access to His presence, His power, and His promises. Salvation also means we no longer belong to ourselves but to God. “We belong to the Father who created us, the Son who redeemed us, and the Holy Spirit who indwells us” —Warren Wiersbe.
Just as the Old Testament the high priests had to be clean before entering the Holy of Holies, we are to remain spiritually clean because we are now the place where God’s Spirit resides. So the fact that your body is a temple is more about being holy than being healthy. “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Holiness is not produced by human effort but by the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit within you.
To say the Holy Spirit is essential to your life is an understatement. It’s like saying oxygen is essential for breathing. Just as oxygen gives physical life and energy, the Holy Spirit gives you spiritual life and power. As you read God’s Word, the Spirit teaches you what it means, using truth to purify your heart and mind and to make you more like Christ. Consequently, you’ll treat and use your body in ways that honor Him.
What sin are you allowing to remain in God’s temple? Confess it to God. Repent by walking away from it. Don’t let what defiles remain where God dwells. Otherwise, you’ll hinder the Spirit’s work in your life. Remember—you are not your own; you belong to God. So today, die to your selfish will and desires, and choose instead to yield every part of your life to the Holy Spirit for the glory of God.
