Or didn't you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don't you see that you can't live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (The Message)
And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. Romans 8:9 (NIV)
This concept jumped out at me this morning. Oh, yes, I’ve been taught and agreed for years that I am not my own. But the reality of my body being the property and residence of the Holy Spirit took on new meaning.
Think of it. God the creator made us human and gave us freedom to choose what to do with our life. Then, he purchased the right to be the landlord (owner) of everything we have. The price? The blood of Jesus. In exchange for all our life as we know it – everything that we can enjoy, control, imagine, whether we consider it “spiritual” or physical. God has given us his Holy Spirit to be the Director of all our affairs.
Now, as the Manager accountable to the Director and Owner, I have agreed to a contract (covenant) which states that I will do everything according to the intent of the Owner. Fortunately, this is a great deal because I couldn’t have this great of a life without the Director’s personal interest in my operations.
Fascinating, isn’t it?
Marlene Nathan in Living by the Spirit (NavPress Pilgrimage Growth Guide) presents this question: “How would your life be different if the Spirit lived among you with much more power and a much higher standard for holiness?”
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Luke 11:13
