The Temple of God | July 8
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
Food is for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.
1 Corinthians 6:9-14
Father, You have taught us that we are Your Temple and that You reside in our hearts. It does not surprise us that this temple should not be dragged into sinful situations. If we claim we are Yours, help us not desecrate the temple, nor embarrass You, and eventually ourselves, by our bad choices.
We know that You hate sin and will not let it into Your midst. Is there any way Father that we can willfully sin and still expect Your presence? There may be a way but it seems like a childish expectation.
Father, the sins listed are more or less “sins against our bodies” but are sins of anger, pride and envy any less irritating to You? You have taught us the answer many times; we are to be as Jesus and that was the embodiment of perfection. Since we are in a state of “becoming” in terms of our sanctification, we realize that sin will pursue us, relentlessly. Strengthen our resolve to look to You for the solution.
You did resurrect Jesus and the last verse of this quotation says You will lift us up. We are, at times, very burdened here and can’t wait for the perfection You promise. In the meantime, help us use the days You have allotted to us wisely that we may bring glory to You. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project
