Many people fall into pride by thinking that the body we possess belongs entirely to us. However, if one takes time to meditate deeply on this, it becomes evident that we do not have absolute authority over our bodies. This is proof that our bodies are not truly our own.<\/p>\n
If your body were completely yours, you would be able to choose your height, skin color, or gender. You would be able to stop your heart from beating at will, prevent blood from circulating, or avoid sweating when the heat is intense. Since none of these are under our control, it proves that our bodies belong to someone else\u2014ultimately, to God. As the Bible declares:<\/p>\n
\n\u201cDo you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;\u201d
\u20141 Corinthians 6:19<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nBecause of this truth, we must live under the authority of the One who owns our bodies. God instructs that our bodies should not be instruments of sin. We obey these commands\u2014not because we are in full control of our bodies, but because they belong to Him. We should not use our bodies for sexual immorality, drunkenness, or other sins. We are merely stewards, tenants, or guests within our own flesh, not owners. We do not have 100% freedom to act as we please.<\/p>\n
If God commands that our bodies be clothed decently and honorably, we do not question why; we obey, for they are His.<\/p>\n
Learning More About the Owner of Our Bodies<\/p>\n
Once, the Pharisees tested Jesus with a question:<\/p>\n
\n\u201cTell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?\u201d
\u2014Matthew 22:17<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nJesus, knowing their evil intent, replied:<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWhy are you trying to trap me, you hypocrites?\u201d
\u2014Matthew 22:18<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nWhen shown a coin, He asked:<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWhose image is this? And whose inscription?\u201d
\u2014Matthew 22:20<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nThey answered, \u201cCaesar\u2019s.\u201d Jesus replied:<\/p>\n
\n\u201cSo give back to Caesar what is Caesar\u2019s, and to God what is God\u2019s.\u201d
\u2014Matthew 22:21<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nNotice the distinction: Caesar owns the coin because it bears his image. How much more should we give our bodies to God, for they bear His image and likeness!<\/p>\n
Returning to the Scriptures in Genesis:<\/p>\n
\n\u201cThen God said, \u2018Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.\u2019
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.\u201d
\u2014Genesis 1:26-27<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nFrom this, we see that our bodies belong to God because they carry His image and likeness. Just as Jesus instructed giving to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, we must much more offer our bodies to Christ, for they reflect God\u2019s image.<\/p>\n
We should examine ourselves daily: Are we using our bodies as God intends? Are we honoring them through holiness, prayer, fasting, and participation in worship? If not, when the time comes, we will give an account to the owner of our body.<\/p>\n
If we use our bodies for sexual immorality, promiscuity, or sin, we must reflect seriously. If we think our bodies are entirely ours, or that we have freedom to expose or exploit them, or to make life-and-death choices at will, we must reconsider.<\/p>\n
May the Lord always help us to honor Him with our bodies.<\/p>\n
Shalom.<\/p>\n
Please share this good news with others. If you would like to receive these teachings via email or WhatsApp, leave a message in the comment box below or contact +255 789001312.<\/p>\n
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