Body Parts

Body Parts

1 Corinthians 6: ¹⁵ You know that your bodies are parts of the body of Christ. Shall I take a part of Christ's body and make it part of the body of a prostitute? Impossible! ¹⁶ Or perhaps you don't know that the man who joins his body to a prostitute becomes physically one with her? The scripture says quite plainly, “The two will become one body.” ¹⁷ But he who joins himself to the Lord becomes spiritually one with him.

 

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“Look at that ‘insert body part’ on her” we said in an ogling fashion. Our focus was on the physical appearance. This lit the fire inside me to stop searching for GOD inside each person and settle for fulfilling my lusts.

 

• There have been times when I settled for looking at body parts.
• There have been times when I treated GOD’s children as common “things” to be used by me.
• There have been times when I wanted to misuse a part of CHRIST’s body for “my” own purposes.

 

Paul explains that my body is part of CHRIST’s body. In other words, the total number of people who believe in JESUS make up a single “body” under CHRIST. We are “spiritually one” with HIM. Paul also appeals to everyone to rethink how our physical bodies are to be used as a sacrifice to serve JESUS.

 

• GOD wants me to search for HIS SPIRIT in each person.
• GOD wants me to see beyond the physical and remain spiritually connected to HIM.
• GOD wants me to treat HIS body as holy.

 

Downplaying how GOD sees sex does not make my sentence any lighter. Sin is still sin. If I think in a way that is not repentant, then maybe I need to rethink my relationship with JESUS. Am I just mouthing the words or living them?

 

GOD is very serious about bringing all people back to HIM so they can be saved. When I ogle over one, I may be part of the problem and cause others to fall away from HIM. The hidden or overt lust will be seen by onlookers. I am grateful GOD does provide grace and opens my eyes to HIS children.

 

• Are you ogling over someone’s body parts?
• Do you mistreat the body of CHRIST and think there will be no repercussion?
• Will you seek GOD’s kingdom first and look for the need for salvation in “that” person instead of fulfilling your lusts today?

Never too late to return

Deuteronomy 4: ³⁰ All of the things I’ve told you about might happen to you. And you will be in trouble. But later you will return to the Lord your God. You will obey him. ³¹ The Lord your God is tender and loving. He won’t leave you or destroy you. He won’t forget the covenant he made with your people long ago. He took an oath when he made it.

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Staring at the phone drove me crazy! In college I had “friends” who called me constantly wanting to know the “fun” I had in store for them but, alas, I was no longer in college. I didn’t know anyone in this particular town and the apartment I moved into, while extremely close to work, was a semi-retired home full of old ladies.

Boredom quickly set in. “I have got to find a club or something to do” I said to myself. One of the old ladies in the building asked me “which church do you go to?” “Church?” “What’s church?” I said in my mind.  It had been a long time and I hadn’t considered actually worshipping GOD, not until I had chest pains and a broken down car and other problems.

• There are times that I forget GOD.
• There are times where I ignore HIS voice.
• There are times when I leave GOD’s ways to do what I want.

GOD knows what’s best for me so and HE knows I will not make the right decision.  HE takes me out of situations that will harm me and places me right where HE wants me. HE knows the right circumstances to place in front of me to guide me back to HIM.

• GOD is willing to accept me no matter how long I’ve been away from HIM.
• GOD is willing to love me no matter what I’ve done.
• GOD is willing to protect me no matter how low I’ve sank.

GOD wanted a relationship with me so HE died for me. Someone had to die for the sins I commit so HE volunteered. HIS only criteria is my belief, not just in HIS existence but in HIS position. HE wants me to believe I deserve to go to Hell based on my birth and that there is no “good” in me.

HE wants me to believe there is only one way to true worship and salvation and that way is through understanding JESUS volunteered to take away my sins. HIS resurrection placed HIM above all. GOD will never leave me or destroy me because of HIS tender love for me!

• Do you doubt GOD?
• Have you lost your way?
• Can you let GOD guide you back to HIM?
• Won’t you seek HIM again today?

Ease off on my measure of others

Ephesians 5: ³ But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. ⁴ Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

⁵ For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater —has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.

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“Oh no, they won’t let me in heaven” I thought to myself as I read this passage.  I mean I have experienced all that was written here. I wanted to rewrite the Bible and take the words “even a hint” out. What this is saying is I can’t get full of myself and look down on what someone else is doing.

Television, magazines and billboards promote sex, greed and lust that I easily fall into. Who can save me from GOD’s wrath?

 

• Sensuality is a weapon against me to lure me away from focusing on GOD.
• Greed is a weapon that enables me to fear losing money causing me to doubt GOD’s power.
• Obscene, foolish talk and coarse joking helps me fit in but wastes my time when I could be focused on growing myself or someone else.

It seems hopeless doesn’t it?  I mean isn’t everyone a little lustful or greedy or envious? Not everyone! JESUS volunteered to become a human and was tempted in every way. HE lived years and years without committing a sin and people who attended church regularly murdered HIM because HE told them about their lust and greed and they didn’t listen.

• GOD wants me to work at being pure because the SON forgave me for my impurity.
• GOD wants me to work on being generous because the SON forgave me for my greed.
• GOD wants me to work on being an encourager because the SON forgave me for my foul, coarse joking.

Instead of comparing myself to others I must read what GOD says about me.  HE doesn’t expect me to be perfect nor do I have to die for the sins of mankind, but the more I can focus on following what GOD wants me to, the more HE will reward me.

• Are you caught up in sexual immorality?
• Do you desire more stuff?
• Are you nervous about losing you stuff?
• Are you trying to fit in with the wrong group?
• Won’t you give up some of these things little by little and focus on GOD?