My Body Is about Him

My Body Is about Him    
by Max Lucado    

"Don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you?" (1 Corinthians 6:19 NLT). Paul wrote these words to counter the Corinthian sex obsession. "Run away from sexual sin!" reads the prior sentence. "No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body." (v.18 NLT).

What a salmon scripture! No message swims more up-stream than this one. You know the sexual anthem of our day: "I'll do what I want. It's my body." God's firm response? "No, it's not. It's mine."

Be quick to understand, God is not antisex. Dismiss any notion that God is antiaffection and anti-intercourse. After all, he developed the whole package. Sex was his idea. From his perspective, sex is nothing short of holy.

He views sexual intimacy the way I view our family Bible. Passed down from my father's side, the volume is one hundred years old and twelve inches thick. Replete with lithographs, scribblings, and a family tree, it is, in my estimation, beyond value. Hence, I use it carefully.

When I need a stepstool, I don't reach for the Bible. If the foot of my bed breaks, I don't use the family Bible as a prop. When we need old paper for wrapping, we don't rip a sheet out of this book. We reserve the heirloom for special times and keep it in a chosen place.

Regard sex the same way—as a holy gift to be opened in a special place at special times. The special place is marriage, and the time is with your spouse.

Casual sex, intimacy outside of marriage, pulls the Corinthian ploy. It pretends we can give the body and not affect the soul. We can't. We humans are so intricately psychosomatic that whatever touches the soma impacts the phyche as well. The me-centered phrase "as long as no one gets hurt" sounds noble, but the truth is, we don't know who gets hurt. God-centered thinking rescues us from the sex we thought would make us happy. You may think your dalliances are harmless, and years may pass before the x-rays reveal the internal damage, but don't be fooled. Casual sex is a diet of chocolate—it tastes good for a while, but the imbalance can ruin you. Sex apart from God's plan wounds the soul.

Your body, God's temple. Respect it.

A Prayer to Lighten Today’s Load

A Prayer to Lighten Today’s Load   
By Ron Moore    

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Life can get burdensome. When it comes to things that will weigh us down, the list is long. Worry and anxiety encumbers our emotions. Burdens consume our thinking. Trials can suck the energy out of our bodies. Life's load brings weariness--spiritually, physically, and emotionally.

But Jesus invites us to lighten the load. He asks all who are weighed down to find relief in Him. He promises to bring peace and calmness to our souls. When we partner with Jesus on the journey, He takes the heavy burden and makes it light. He is a gentle and humble teacher. Through life's inevitable challenges, we find rest when we are yoked with Him.

Why are you trying to do it all on your own? Why have you settled for a life of stumbling under the load? Isn't it time you began the journey with Jesus? Isn't it time you gave your worry and anxiety to Him? Aren't you ready to see what God has to teach you? It's time to come to Jesus and find rest for your soul.

Lord Jesus, I have carried this burden far too long. My present sin is disabling my heart. My past guilt has paralyzed my future obedience. Anxiety over things I can't control has taken siege over my soul. I am worn out. I cannot continue on my own. Right now, I come to You. I am taking You at Your word. I am seeking to partner with You and have You take my load. I am ready for my burden to be lightened and my heart to find rest. In Your name. Amen.

5 Bible Truths to Help You Have Courage Today

5 Bible Truths to Help You Have Courage Today   
By Mark Altrogge    

When we are discouraged we need to hear someone say, “Take Courage.” Maybe you are facing an overwhelming situation. Maybe you were recently been laid off or face an uncertain future. Perhaps you are facing a serious health challenge. Maybe you’re not facing a life-and-death situation, but you’re facing several crazy kids who have the gift of frazzling. But at one time or another we all need to hear God say, “Take courage.” Here are a few reasons we can:

Because God Himself is with Us

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1.9

We can take courage because we aren’t facing our challenges alone. God, the creator of the universe, the all-powerful One, is right here with us. He’s not far off and uninvolved. When we don’t know what to do, he does. He’s never tired, never weary, never takes a break.

Because God Has a Plan for Us

The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” AC 23.11

God has a plan for each one of his children, and he will fulfill that plan. We don’t have to fulfill some destiny for ourselves; God is accomplishing his work through us. And he never fails to complete his plans.

Because Jesus Has Overcome the World

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” JN 16.33

Jesus said we WILL have tribulation in this world. We shouldn’t be surprised by it. If we look at this world only, we will lose heart. But we can “take heart” and take courage, for Jesus is greater than the world and he has already overcome it. Nothing in this world can defeat our Mighty Conqueror. And he has overcome the world for us—for those he redeemed.

Because Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (RO 8.38–39)

No matter what we are going through, we can be assured that it hasn’t separated us from Christ’s love. And if he loves us, we can take heart that he will protect us, provide for us, guide us, and help us. Nothing in all creation can separate us from his love. Whether we lose our jobs or our homes or our health or even our minds, Jesus will hold us in his love and never let us go. So, take courage.

Because God himself will strengthen us

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” IS 12.2

When you look down from the edge of the cliff, it looks like a long long fall. Take courage; you’re tied to an almighty immovable Tree. Don’t worry if you’ll have enough courage for tomorrow. God will give you all the strength you need for today. And he’s got bags and bags of grace stored up for tomorrow, a whole warehouse of grace stored up for the future.

A Messy Life for God

A Messy Life for God   
by Sarah Phillips    

Reading about St. Gregory's life has given me much to ponder about living for God. Gregory, like so many other faithful Christian heroes, was a normal man with real emotions. Yet God worked through the messiness of life to accomplish great things through him. While Gregory's sensitive spirit may have been a shortcoming in some arenas, it became one of his greatest strengths in bringing the Gospel to the world.

Gregory's story is also a reminder that there is no utopian Christian community, no perfect pastor or church unaffected by sin. Even the "greats" had relational problems. At the same time, God often works through fellowship with one another to help us reach our full potential.

Intersecting Faith & Life: What are your weaknesses and shortcomings? What ways can they become strengths when submitted to the grace of God? What ways can you show grace and godly love to others who, in their own weaknesses, have failed you?