"Use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God."
Romans 6:13
"Just because something is technically legal doesn't mean that it's spiritually appropriate.
If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I'd be a slave to my whims.
You know the old saying, "First you eat to live, and then you live to eat?"
Well, it may be true that the body is only a temporary thing, but that's no excuse for stuffing your body with food, or indulging it with sex.
Since the Master honors you with a body, honor Him with your body."
1 Corinthians 6:12-13 (The Message)
Satan can no longer touch the soul of a believer, but he's bound and determined to steal our witness. In the passages above, Paul deals with sensual sins IN the churches he wrote. Later in 1 Corinthians 6, the Apostle warns us not to be fooled into thinking that because our souls are safe, we can do whatever we want with or to our bodies and get away with it.
He uses every sensual or tasty temptation imaginable to draw us into some form of addiction: the taste of food; the rush that comes with sexual images or the next conquest; the drugged or drunken feeling of well-being; the adrenaline and energy from anger; and the list goes on and becomes more personalized for each of us. If our habits and strongholds, our "personality quirks" and addictions keep people from seeing the power of God, they move on in their search for the life-changing power they need to break the strongholds and addictions in their own lives. Does that mean they want to see airbrushed, photo-shopped Christians? Just the opposite. They need to know we struggle with all the same temptations and addictions, but that we don't struggle alone. They need the same hope and help from the same God Who has already freed us from the greatest threat to our bodies: death. He didn't free us to watch us enslave ourselves to self-destructive habits. He freed us to live in peace, love and joy. (Galatians 5:22)
"To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."
Romans 8:6
Lord, forgive us for allowing anything into our lives that battles with You for power in us. We've already declared You "Lord," but then we open the door to other "lords." We want You alone to rule us. You alone are the Mighty God Who has freed us and continues to work in us in Love. Take away our appetites for self-destructive habits. Live through us so others see You working. May they take hope and know there's a God Who loves them and doesn't use or abuse them.
In the Name of Jesus, Lord over death and Lord Who said "Go and sin no more."
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