Scheduled Reading
Job 28:16-31:40; Psalm 105:41-106:2; Proverbs 22:11-13; 1 Corinthians 5:9-6:20

Selected Passage: 1 Cor 6:18

Today I will borrow  a point brought out by our revival preacher - Lane Johnson, with Life Action Ministries in his message to us Sunday night. I thought it was so profound it was certainly worth reiterating here! In fact, if taken seriously, it should change our perceptions about what we, as Christians, should really be all about.

Matthew gives an account in his Gospel describing Jesus clearing out the temple. He threw out the money changers and had some harsh words to say about them. He reminded the people that God's temple was to be a house of prayer and chided them for making it a robber's lair. Then here in 1st Corinthians, Paul declares that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. In fact he does so previously in 1 Cor 3:16. In both cases Paul is admonishing believers to recognize that fact about themselves in order to help them monitor their own behavior. Since I can remember, I have been taught that there are things I should not do because my body was the temple of the Holy Spirit. Paul mentions sexual immorality. I was also taught not to smoke or do drugs because of this truth. This understanding is certainly valid and wise. However, they only deal with those things I should NOT do because of my "templeship". They say nothing of what I SHOULD be doing.

Jesus made it perfectly clear in Matthew's Gospel.  He said the Temple of God is to be a house of prayer. My body / life (God's Temple) should be characterized by an atmosphere of prayerFULLness.