You Are God's Temple: Devotions From Time of GraceSample

Honor God Because You Belong to Him: My body is an instrument of worship

When I was a teenager, one of my father’s hardest jobs with me was to get me to think about others, to think in advance about the impact that my words and actions would have on other people. As a father myself and when my children were teenagers, I had the joy of helping them to learn that they are not sovereign and independent entities. They are connected to family, friends, school, church, and employer.

And to God. The God who created us and redeemed us has adopted us into his family. His Spirit now dwells within us as his temple. He claims us, and that means he also has high expectations of us. St. Paul writes, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19,20).

Wherever you go, you go as a publicly identified child of God. You carry the family name. Everything you say or do affects God’s reputation. Now you know why Jesus thought it so important to train us to pray, “Hallowed be your name.” How will you make God look good in your world today?