Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 9: Stewardship”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
What would you do to your home if you knew Jesus was going to physically visit you tomorrow?
Perhaps some of you would say, “You know what, he already knows how I live, no need to clean up.”
Others would initiate a “full court press” to clean the whole house, the yard, and ensure that the house where Jesus would visit was in its top form.
I would say the latter would be my tendency.
So how come we don’t…or at least don’t very well or very often.
Probably because the last person we expect to visit us physically would be our Lord Jesus.
Sure we remember his promise is that he is with us always.
Sure we remember that where two or three are gathered in his name, he is there.
Sure we remember nothing can separate us from Jesus.
But does it change anything?
Probably not as much as we would think it should.
We are busy. We have things to do. We don’t have time to waste and the list goes on.
Here’s the truth I invite us to consider today from 1 Corinthians 6:19.
Jesus actually is dwelling with you…in your OWN body!
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 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; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
You see our bodies aren’t just attached to our soul for us to do with our bodies as WE desire. In fact God gave us our bodies and all its abilities and senses to do as God desires.
This week under the theme of stewardship, we are asking different questions. When we realize Jesus has taken up residence in my body…when I realize that I was bought at a tremendous price, I realize that I need to ask a new question, “God, what do you want me to do with my body?”
Luther would say, (Explanation to the First Article): For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.
When we realize our bodies were bought at a price and are the dwelling place of our Savior, it is our duty to use our energy and abilities to give thanks to God through the actions we do every day. It is our duty to use our lips and our voices to sing and speak the praise of God. It is our duty to use what God has entrusted to us to serve others. It is our duty to use our mind to obey the words and commands of Him who bought us with his very body and blood. It is a duty that is not burdensome, but a natural response to the goodness we have been shown.
Enjoy having an awareness today that you too have Jesus himself residing in your heart and soul. Let today represent him to others.
Apply: What small change might you make today to better care physically for your body (take a walk, eat something more healthy, take daily vitamins, etc. Form a new habit to better care for the body God has given to you and in which he has taken up residence!
Prayer: Thank you for fearfully and wonderfully making me. Thank you for purchasing me with the body and blood of your Son, that I might be your own and every day, now and always honor you with my body. AMEN.