~ 1 Corinthians 6:19–20
Paul’s words to the Corinthian church are both corrective and inspiring. The Corinthians lived in a culture of indulgence, sexual immorality, gluttony, idolatry, and reckless living were common in their city. Many believers struggled to separate their new life in Christ from the habits of their old world. Into this confusion, Paul reminds them of a profound truth: your body is not your own.
In the Old Testament, the temple was the dwelling place of God’s presence. It was sacred, holy, and carefully maintained. To defile the temple was to dishonor God Himself. Paul takes that image and applies it personally: no longer does God’s Spirit dwell in a building He dwells in you. Every believer is a living temple. That truth changes everything.
When Paul says “you are not your own,” he is pointing to the price Jesus paid on the cross. Our redemption cost the blood of the Son of God. Because of this, we belong to Him completely body, soul, and spirit. This is why he concludes: “Glorify God in your body.” Worship is not just about singing hymns or praying prayers; it is about how we live daily in these bodies entrusted to us.
This truth directly ties into the Biblical Health message. If our bodies are God’s temples, then how we care for them matters. What we eat, drink, and consume affects the dwelling place of the Spirit. Habits like substance abuse, sexual immorality, and neglect of health are not simply “personal choices” they dishonor the God who lives in us. By contrast, choosing a lifestyle of discipline, balance, and care is an act of worship.
Consider the priests who once served in the temple. They kept the sanctuary clean, offered pure sacrifices, and treated the holy place with reverence. In the same way, we are priests of our own bodies, called to maintain God’s temple with integrity. To ignore health is to neglect stewardship; to honor health is to glorify God.
But this is not about fear or perfectionism. God’s Spirit is not quick to abandon us; rather, He empowers us. Holiness is never achieved by our strength alone it is the Spirit within who enables us to live differently. We don’t pursue health for vanity or legalism but because we love the One who paid such a high price for us.
Today, pause and consider: Am I treating my body as a temple of the Spirit, or as if it belongs only to me? Do my habits glorify God, or do they compromise my witness? The call is clear: glorify God in your body. It is a privilege, a responsibility, and an act of worship.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for dwelling in me through Your Holy Spirit. Help me to see my body as Your temple and to care for it with reverence. Teach me to glorify You in every choice I make, so that my whole life becomes worship to You. Amen.
