Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (NIV)
Sexual Immorality
12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do 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; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
In what ways do you struggle with what is permissible and what is beneficial?
One of the struggles I have with what is permissible and what is beneficial comes in the form of food, specifically chocolate! I love chocolate and not the healthy dark chocolate, no give me milk chocolate! There are some who can eat chocolate and be satisfied with a little, not me. I need the whole king-size bar. That is not good for my body or my health and I know it, but it’s hard for me. I know that if I start gaining weight, my knees hurt more, my back hurting causes my knees to hurt more, it becomes a downward spiral. There is nothing wrong with chocolate but when I give in to the temptation to overdo it I pay a price. When I hurt more it is harder to be available for service to others and I know that is what the Lord wants of me. I need to make sure this temple is in good shape.
Lord help me to remember that my body is connected to you and is a temple for your Holy Spirit. I don’t want to be guilty of bringing shame or disgrace to my wonderful Savior. You have already paid the price for my freedom. I want to enjoy the freedom you gave me to serve you. I only want to bring you glory, honor, praise, and joy. I pray once again for the strength to avoid anything that is not of you and live in the light of your grace. Amen!
Today’s prayer was submitted by Jo Schneider