Temple of the Holy Spirit

  We are not only corporately temples of the Holy Spirit (see the February 10 post), we are also individually temples of the Holy Spirit.  Paul makes this point to the Corinthian community in a section of his letter against sexual immorality.  Obviously, immorality was a problem in the community because Paul writes to them, answering their questions about it.  Not only have people been divisive, but they have been boasting, cheating one another, suing one another, and using one another's bodies for their own pleasure (1 Corinthians 6).  Paul is quite clear that such things ought not to be happening in the church.
  Again he says to them, "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 Cor 6:19-20). By engaging in sexual immorality we dishonor our own bodies.  By sinning against our very selves, we sink to a low level - a level unworthy of someone who has been redeemed at the price of Jesus' death.
  For Reflection:  Am I treating my body as a temple of the Holy Spirit?  Am I getting the proper amount of rest, food and exercise?  Am I guarding my eyes from images they shouldn't see, my ears from things they shouldn't hear, my mouth from things it shouldn't say?  Do I remember the price that Jesus paid for my life?
  Let us pray.  Jesus, I'm sorry for the times when I have been careless and negligent toward my body or the bodies of others.  I realize that my body belongs to you because it was created by you and redeemed by you.  I do not have the right to do with it whatever I want.  I thank you that your Holy Spirit lives in me.

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