Do you believe churches are holy places that should not be desecrated? Many of us forget that our bodies are also holy places. Paul wrote: "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Consequently, we shouldn't do anything which contaminates our bodies; we should keep them pure.
There are several aspects of purity: emotional purity, intellectual purity, physical purity, and moral purity. Emotional purity involves cultivating positive emotions such as love, joy, and peace while avoiding negative emotions such as anger, jealousy, and resentment. We have chosen many such positive emotions in this series.
Intellectual purity involves cultivating a clear, open mind free from negative thoughts, prejudices, and biases. It involves being open to new ideas and perspectives and seeking knowledge and wisdom that align with one's spiritual beliefs. Most importantly, it involves seeking the truth.
Physical purity refers to the condition of the body, including practices that promote good health, cleanliness, and hygiene. It may involve practices such as fasting, exercise, and healthy eating.
And moral purity involves living according to a set of moral principles that are consistent with one's spiritual beliefs. This includes honesty, integrity, kindness, compassion, and respect for others. A significant component of this is sexual purity. It isn't easy being sexually pure in a world that often promotes and glorifies promiscuity, but as followers of Christ, we must. "Flee from sexual immorality," Paul urges. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body" (1 Corinthians 6:18). And that is when he refers to the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit.
Elsewhere he tells us that our true and proper worship is offering our bodies to God as a living sacrifice (see Romans 12:1). So how can we live sexually pure lives? Here are a few tips. Set clear boundaries. Surround yourself with like-minded people. Avoid situations that could lead to temptation. If you find yourself in a challenging situation, run! It's what Joseph did when Potiphar's wife tried to tempt him. Take care of your physical, emotional, or spiritual needs. A lot of sexual activity happens because of pain avoidance. And seek help when needed. If you want an expansion of these tips, please watch a recording of my live talk in the House of Prayer. The link comes at the end of this video.
So, let us choose purity today. And may our bodies truly be holy temples to God's Holy Spirit.
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