Living in Honor of the Cross

Scripture:
1 Cor. 6:18-20 – “Flee immorality…Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God with your body.”

Observation:
Paul is continuing to get on to the church at Corinth about the way they are sinning. There is apparently a pretty big issue of sexually immorality. In verse 17 he reminds us that through Christ we are joined, or united with Christ through the Spirit in us. I like the aggressive nature of the phrase “flee immorality.” It gives me the picture of getting as far away from immorality as I can and doing it as fast as I can. He says RUN AWAY! Then the reminder that our bodies are not just bodies. They are the dwelling place of the spirit of God in the way the temple was. The temple was a sacred place that required people to be clean from sin to meet with God. IT was a set apart place. The temple was a holy place, not just another place and that is how he describes the body of the believer. He then turns the corner to say, “You did not come to have the Spirit of God in you by anything you did.” God did it. So now you do not belong to you. You belong to God. The final reminder and response is simple. I have been paid for with a huge price so I should glorify God in my body.

Application:
What does it mean to glorify God in my body if I am not caught up in sexual immorality? 1 Peter 1:13-19 comes to mind. It reminds me of the price that was paid…the spotless and unblemished blood of Jesus. It reminds that the Father I call on is Holy and I should pursue to be Holy. It reminds me of the cross and all God “said about himself” on the cross. Peter says to “conduct yourselves in fear during your time of stay on earth.” Today I want to be reminded of the cross and judge my behavior based on the work of Jesus on the cross. Does anything I do communicate that the cross did not matter? I am I acting in a way that is respectful of the price paid for me?

Today in history Jesus went to the cross. He died for me. He went through pain. He took on my sin. He took my place. He became sin that I might be God’s righteousness. He brought me near to God by the cross. He has given me eternal life. He has made me holy. So, I want what I do in body to honor the work of Jesus on the cross.

Prayer:
Thanks you for the cross. Help me remember the great price paid for me. Help my life honor you.

— Doug Hunt, pastor of worship/programming