1 Corinthians 6:18-20, (NLT) Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
Every day, we have the choice to live for ourselves or live for Christ. "My body, My choice" and the ideas this phrase conveys is something I’m going back and forth on currently. I do believe that once you are a Christian – your life and body is no longer your own (and in truth, it never was). However, there are areas in this fallen world where it is necessary to have “ownership” of our bodies; to have the choice of what happens to us physically.
*I don’t know if it is so much back and forth as refining my conviction of the choices with which we really have control.
When this phrase is used to legitimize abortion, I have to admit, it doesn’t make sense to me. Anyone who has been pregnant can tell you that pregnancy – FROM THE BEGINNING – takes away your body being your own. Immediately, you do not feel yourself, your body is changing in chemical and physical ways to sustain the OTHER body within you and you are acutely aware that nothing about your body and life is for YOU ALONE for a long while (and in truth, will never be just about you ever again). This is not to undermine a girl's/woman's frustrations, fears and MANY other complications (compounded by the immediate surge of pregnancy hormones) that contribute to the whirlwind existence of an unplanned, unwanted pregnancy. I just don’t understand this phrase as a reason to take a life. If you have had an abortion, I am deeply sorry for your loss and everything you have lost that put you in the position to have to make such a wounding and life altering (yours and the baby’s) decision…this is not meant to heap more guilt or wound you further.
Flip it now…someone initiates touch and/or actions toward your body that are not wanted. Do you have a choice? Yes, you have a choice. As the caretaker of the temple of the Holy Spirit, you have the choice to keep your body safe, holy and set apart for God. I say safe – only as much as you have control over that. I know the wounding and shame of not being able to keep God’s temple “holy” and pure because of evil acts and sexual sins forced upon your/my body. I will repeat to you what I have to repeat to myself...it is not your fault that someone has abused you...just because you have the choice to say "no" does not mean you are to blame if someone doesn't listen or that you may have been too afraid to say "no" in the first place - evil does not get a pass just because you could not say "no" for any reason. However, that does not legitimize or rationalize any continued evil or impure acts I participate in by choice.
Further reflection, do we have choice over every day, healthy and normal touch? Again, I say yes. I say this because God created You (and me) wonderfully and fearfully in His image (Psalm 139:14 (NIV), Genesis 1:27 (NIV)) The bible says we are His handiwork and masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10, NIV & NLT). So again, I say, in ways our body is handled and cared for by ourselves and others is our CHOICE and we are given the privilege and responsibility to say (in some way) to others, “You may not touch me or treat me in ways that grieve the Holy Spirit or undermine God’s intention for my body and life.” We are also free to say, “I am not comfortable with what you are doing right now.” It is not “loving” to you or anyone else to allow your needs to be neglected or devalued. God’s temple – YOU and I – have the right to be cared for and loved in ways that God reveals is loving for us. Things may look normal for others but if you and I are uncomfortable, we can listen to God’s voice and share our feelings about what we want to happen to us. Anyone who loves you, will care about your feelings and help you heal from ways in which you might be uncomfortable with things that should be "healthy and normal."
No matter what ways that you (and I) have used or have been used that would grieve the Holy Spirit (and probably grieve you), Jesus has given a way of healing…a way back to the wholeness and purity He has always desired for every person He created. Jesus paid a great price to give us that privilege. He endured great evil (like many of us) in order to grant us power and choice over our bodies – so that they may be treated holy, special and be cherished, as the temple of our Creator.
Isaiah 53:5, (NLT) But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
*editorial note: I am still in the midst of a struggle over many of the ideas in this post…I probably have not said everything exactly the way I desire. Feel free to refine any where I have misunderstood scripture or life in general…this post hits close to home for many reasons. Feel free also to message me if I can pray for you if this post hits you in the gut like it has me. Song of a Hero, Song of Reminder from God
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Monday, April 1, 2013
The Right Kind Of Sorrow
2 Corinthians 7:10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.
Worldly sorrow also lacks the knowledge of love that Godly sorrow knows how to experience.
We recently have read the book of Jonah with the girls (per request). We did not read a glossy, picture filled version (of which we have a couple I think), we read the 4 chapters straight from the old testament. I LOVE that the girls are requesting to read the stories they have heard about in Sunday School and VBS and the glossy picture books straight from the Bible – going to the source is such a better way to get your information. They definitely remember the pictures from the glossy children’s books and like to compare the story with the pictures they remember (so there is a definite benefit to them). But it is fun that they are at an age they no longer need them and we get to go deeper with the story of how God used all the things that happened to Jonah for not only Ninevah’s salvation but Jonah’s as well (and, Mia noted, the men on the boat with Jonah).
No discipline or training should come without the knowledge of love and how to repent and avoid sin and its consequences in the future. Because of Jonah’s disobedience to the take the news of salvation to the people of Ninevah, the Lord allowed him to experience the full consequence of his decision (along with a lesson in how God’s love, discipline and salvation really works). He brought Jonah near death then saved him. The experiences in our life that look like the darkest and worst are sometimes God’s way of saving us from complete death and separation from Him. He might even let us get right at death’s door, only to show us the way back and display His love and care for us. (Read Jonah’s Prayer in Chapter 2). Praise In The Storm
No matter how “Godly” we think we are, we are only as “godly” as we are humble. We must be fully aware of our total dependence on God to fulfill our purpose, work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12, NLT) and be fueled by His grace and redemption to keep us from the sorrow of the past. He allows us to walk in the new joy of our presence with Him – He reveals to us (probably something we already knew but weren’t living) that He alone is God and that He alone has the power over death and life.
Like Jonah, we blatantly disobey and decide to act in defiance of God’s good and wise instruction. Jonah’s job was a prophet and he had become so proud that he forgot he was a human who could still sin, disobey and fall short of the glory of God. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of the God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:23, NLT). While Jonah was judging Ninevah for their sin and disobedience, God humbled him and opened his eyes to his own sin, brought him to a deep sorrow and revealed his continued need for salvation and redemption. Then, because of the redemption and salvation he received, he joyously shared the grace of God with others (this is what our response could be too if we allow).
In opening our eyes to our sins, God allows us to experience a sorrow that lifts us and brings us out of the death of sin and into life – were His joy, love and patience reside. A Song of Declaration
1 Corinthians 11:32 (NLT) Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.
Hebrews 12:8, 10b-13 (NLT) If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. …God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.
Worldly sorrow also lacks the knowledge of love that Godly sorrow knows how to experience.
We recently have read the book of Jonah with the girls (per request). We did not read a glossy, picture filled version (of which we have a couple I think), we read the 4 chapters straight from the old testament. I LOVE that the girls are requesting to read the stories they have heard about in Sunday School and VBS and the glossy picture books straight from the Bible – going to the source is such a better way to get your information. They definitely remember the pictures from the glossy children’s books and like to compare the story with the pictures they remember (so there is a definite benefit to them). But it is fun that they are at an age they no longer need them and we get to go deeper with the story of how God used all the things that happened to Jonah for not only Ninevah’s salvation but Jonah’s as well (and, Mia noted, the men on the boat with Jonah).
No discipline or training should come without the knowledge of love and how to repent and avoid sin and its consequences in the future. Because of Jonah’s disobedience to the take the news of salvation to the people of Ninevah, the Lord allowed him to experience the full consequence of his decision (along with a lesson in how God’s love, discipline and salvation really works). He brought Jonah near death then saved him. The experiences in our life that look like the darkest and worst are sometimes God’s way of saving us from complete death and separation from Him. He might even let us get right at death’s door, only to show us the way back and display His love and care for us. (Read Jonah’s Prayer in Chapter 2). Praise In The Storm
No matter how “Godly” we think we are, we are only as “godly” as we are humble. We must be fully aware of our total dependence on God to fulfill our purpose, work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12, NLT) and be fueled by His grace and redemption to keep us from the sorrow of the past. He allows us to walk in the new joy of our presence with Him – He reveals to us (probably something we already knew but weren’t living) that He alone is God and that He alone has the power over death and life.
Like Jonah, we blatantly disobey and decide to act in defiance of God’s good and wise instruction. Jonah’s job was a prophet and he had become so proud that he forgot he was a human who could still sin, disobey and fall short of the glory of God. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of the God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:23, NLT). While Jonah was judging Ninevah for their sin and disobedience, God humbled him and opened his eyes to his own sin, brought him to a deep sorrow and revealed his continued need for salvation and redemption. Then, because of the redemption and salvation he received, he joyously shared the grace of God with others (this is what our response could be too if we allow).
In opening our eyes to our sins, God allows us to experience a sorrow that lifts us and brings us out of the death of sin and into life – were His joy, love and patience reside. A Song of Declaration
1 Corinthians 11:32 (NLT) Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.
Hebrews 12:8, 10b-13 (NLT) If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. …God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.
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