Your Body Is Mortal However It Still Belongs to God
You Are Waiting for a Glorified Body; That Does Not Excuse Neglecting the Body God Has Entrusted to You Now
We understand that we are called to be good stewards of what God gives us.
Our time, finances, gifts, opportunities, ministries, anything that is a blessing from God!
Well, what about our bodies?
We know this mortal body is temporary. Every believer in Christ has an extraordinary promise awaiting us as declared in 1 Corinthians 15:52–53 (AMPC) “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable (free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed (transformed). For this perishable [part of us] must put on the imperishable [nature], and this mortal [part of us, this nature that is capable of dying] must put on immortality (freedom from death).”
Glory to God!
A glorified, imperishable body is coming.
YOU DO NOT HAVE IT YET.
Until that day, God has entrusted you with a mortal body.
A body that needs nourishment.
A body that needs rest.
A body that benefits from movement.
A body that can become injured or sick.
A body that ages.
A body that sometimes needs appropriate healthcare.
So perhaps we need to stop asking only, “God, will You take care of my body?”
And start asking, “God, am I faithfully taking care of the body You entrusted to me?”
Because Scripture says something that should completely change how believers think about physical health.
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (AMPC) “Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.”
There it is plainly
YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN.
Your body is not an idol to worship.
Your body is not the source of your identity.
Your body is also not disposable property for you to knowingly neglect, abuse, or ignore.
YOUR BODY IS A STEWARDSHIP.
How you feed it matters.
How you rest it matters.
How you discipline it matters.
How you use it matters.
How you respond when something appears wrong matters.
Making reasonable use of effective healthcare available to you when you need it can also be part of that stewardship.
Faith is not an excuse for irresponsibility.
We pray, we trust God, we seek His wisdom.
And then we do the best we can with the knowledge, opportunities, resources, and healthcare available to us.
Romans 12:1 (AMPC) “I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.”
Notice what Paul tells believers to present, YOUR BODY.
Not someday when it becomes glorified, however, RIGHT NOW.
And hear this carefully.
Sickness is not automatically evidence of poor stewardship, weak faith, disobedience, or personal sin.
Faithful believers get sick, bodies age, injuries happen, disease exists, and even genetics matter. Circumstances beyond our control happen and also unfortunately access to healthcare is not equal for everyone.
This is not about condemning someone for what they cannot control.
THIS IS ABOUT BEING FAITHFUL WITH WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL.
God knows the difference between what you cannot do and what you simply refuse to do.
So pray, seek wisdom, exercise self-control, pay attention to your body, make responsible choices, use appropriate healthcare resources available to you.
And when you know something needs to change, STOP MAKING EXCUSES AND CHANGE IT.
Your glorified body is God's promise for eternity.
YOUR MORTAL BODY IS PART OF YOUR STEWARDSHIP TODAY.
Don't care for it because you worship your body.
Don't care for it because society tells you what you should look like.
Don't care for it because you believe you can somehow escape mortality.
CARE FOR IT BECAUSE YOU BELONG TO CHRIST.
You ask God to help you steward your money.
You ask Him to help you steward your gifts.
You ask Him to help you steward your ministry.
You ask Him to help you steward your calling.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU ASKED HIM TO HELP YOU STEWARD YOUR BODY?
Question For Today
If your body belongs to God and is the temple of His Holy Spirit, are you faithfully stewarding the body He entrusted to you, or are you asking God to preserve what you knowingly refuse to take responsibility for?
If You Have Ears To Hear, Then Hear It!
I pray for you each and every day.
All God's Best!
Karl McKinnie
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