Guard the Temple.

This is for Friday's and Today's reading: "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?" 1 Corinthians 6:17 (NKJV)

I think where many christian fail today is guarding the temple. Even though we live in a world where there are all sorts of temptations, there really is not a good excuse for us to stumble. Yet, we do stumble. What do you do when you are faced with temptation? This can be any sort of temptation. I am not speaking specifically towards any one kind of temptation in particular. I know my limitations. I think that is important to recognize. I know that by myself, I am weak, and it is all the more important for me to trust Jesus to help me through each moment. He is my strength. This body we live in, it is home to where Jesus lives.

There is not anything you can hide from Jesus. In fact, He knows everything about you. He knows your strengths, weaknesses, limitations, what makes you tick and sometimes I think that what He sees going on ( I am speaking about my heart, here,) makes him sad and disappointed. What kind of things do you hide in your heart? If you consider your heart Jesus' home, then there are many rooms, and closets, and furnishings. In my own life, I think Jesus is nudging me for Him to be the new interior decorator. I do not think that He likes how his dwelling place is furnished.  Sound a little silly? I hope not, because this is a a serious matter. 

When you chose to receive Christ as your Lord and Savior, He came in to your heart. Your heart is His home, and your body is the temple that protects the heart. You must be on guard. Protect your thoughts. The Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4:4 "that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor." I think it is important to know this, that one, we need to learn to have self-control. Jesus gives us that ability. Secondly,  through that self-control, we honor our bodies before God. I think it is a daily process, especially concerning sanctification. Also, it is important to recognize when you fail, that God is not through with you yet. In 1 Thess. 4:7 it also tells us "...God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness." 

If you are uncertain of what it means to be holy, it has nothing to do with you, except being willing to let God change your life through Jesus. To become holy is to be "set apart" in Christ. So, how will you guard your body, since it is the temple of the Holy Spirit? What things can you do to ensure that you will not stumble? Remember to focus on how Jesus lived. Jesus backed himself up with scripture. Reading your Bible and praying are your first line of defense to guarding the temple. If you are not doing this, then your defenses are down. Are you regular in fellowship? This is also another line of defense. We need fellowship, not only to hear the Word of God taught in church, but to listen to how God is speaking to our hearts, and to be encouraged and supported by other believers in Christ.

You never know what God is going to do if you miss out on fellowship. You could be a blessing to someone, or someone might just bless you that day. So, we have reading the Bible, praying, fellowship at our dispense, and memorizing scripture can be added to reading your Bible, but it really is another line of defense. In the Psalms, David asks how one can remain pure of heart? The response given was to hide the Word of God in his heart. Scripture memory is vital to us as believers in Christ.

Today, are you struggling to guard the temple? Take time to reflect on God's goodness, His love, and ask Him to reveal the weak spots in your armor. Ask Him to strengthen your heart and resolve to live a life that is pure in heart. Let Jesus be the peace in your heart today. Let him clean your heart out. If there is junk hiding, give it to Him to throw away. He will change your life in such a way that you won't miss the junk you throw away.

My prayer today is: Jesus, help me to be more alert and able in you to stand up against the temptations each day throws at me. Help those who need to let go of things that are holding them back. Lift the junk from their hearts and give each a renewed heart and spirit that will guard the temple. Thank you for loving each of us, not for anything that we have done, but for what being valued in your sight. Help us to honor you with our bodies, and to continue being sanctified and made holy in you. Amen.