1 Corinthians 6 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“Flee from sexual immorality! ‘Every sin a person can commit is outside the body,’ but the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is the sanctuary of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) who is in you, whom you have from G_d? You are not your own, for you are bought with a price; therefore glorify G_d in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

My family comes from Arkansas and Texas, horse & cattle country. There was a time, when the West was young and yet to be tamed, when men staked claim to vast pieces of land. Everything in that land became the property of those settlers, to use as they wished. The wild horses on that (newly-claimed) property may not have known it, but someone had staked a claim to them as well. It was only a matter time before cowboys would capture those “wild” horses and make them meek to saddle & bridle.

The first chapter of John’s gospel is clear on the fact that Yeshua created all that exists. Not only is He our manufacturer, He is also our redeemer. By virtue of His death on the Roman cross and His resurrection from the dead, He bought us with a price. We are not our own. I understand that idea, that we are owned and not the determiners of our personal destinies, is an offensive notion in our culture, but it is a reality, nonetheless.

Not long ago, the US Supreme Court ruled on behalf of gay marriage. For instance, if you are a homosexual living in California, you can marry your partner. Whenever Christians take a stand on this issue, abortion, or other personal morality issues, the secular community always responds with the same statement: Keep your laws and religion away from my body!!

In today’s passage, Paul is reminding us that we don’t own our bodies. At best, we are subletting space, which belongs to the Holy Spirit. As in any other “lease” situation, we have the freedom to decorate, personalize, and otherwise exploit our space, but only within the limits & requirements set by the landlord. In short, G_d gives us the right to “choose”, but we are not free to choose wrongly and expect no punitive consequences.

The Corinthians had trouble understanding “community”. They were selfishly more concerned with their personal liberties, than protecting the testimony and reputation of the Messianic community-at-large. Does this sound familiar? Paul’s message could be preached today and considered tailor-fit to our times!

His exhortation to us: If you were bought with a price, then you have no personal liberty. But Fear not! G_d’s love towards us is that we may receive the great eternal “liberty” provided by Yeshua’s atoning blood, along with the freedom of living G_dly lives, which He has personally designed and communicated to us in Scripture.

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins, Associate Leader, Worship Leader
Shuvah Yisrael
Daily Devotional, Thursday, September 5, 2013