I am accountable to God for the way I control my body under His authority. Paul said he did not “set aside the grace of God”— make it ineffective (Galatians 2:21). The grace of God is absolute and limitless, and the work of salvation through Jesus is complete and finished forever. I am not being saved— I am saved. Salvation is as eternal as God’s throne, but I must put to work or use what God has placed within me. To “work out [my] own salvation” (Philippians 2:12) means that I am responsible for using what He has given me. It also means that I must exhibit in my own body the life of the Lord Jesus, not mysteriously or secretly, but openly and boldly. “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection . . .” (1 Corinthians 9:27). Every Christian can have his body under absolute control for God. God has given us the responsibility to rule over all “the temple of the Holy Spirit,” including our thoughts and desires (1 Corinthians 6:19). We are responsible for these, and we must never give way to improper ones. But most of us are much more severe in our judgment of others than we are in judging ourselves. We make excuses for things in ourselves, while we condemn things in the lives of others simply because we are not naturally inclined to do them.

Paul said, “I beseech you . . . that you present your bodies a living sacrifice . . .” (Romans 12:1). What I must decide is whether or not I will agree with my Lord and Master that my body will indeed be His temple. Once I agree, all the rules, regulations, and requirements of the law concerning the body are summed up for me in this revealed truth-my body is “the temple of the Holy Spirit.”

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December 5, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, when I read the scriptures about what I should do, what I should be like, how I should live, I feel convicted. Because I know that I am not being as responsible as I should be. I know that I am not as disciplined nor as “good” as I ought to be. I would like to believe and feel that I have been responsible to the temple of the Holy Spirit, but I know I make many wrong choices daily. What am I to do?

And God says…”First of all forget all your ought tos, should dos and must dos. Remember that there is no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus. If you were/are able to be responsible and disciplined, there would have been no need for Christ Jesus. All things are complete in Him. Let Jesus live through you and let Him provide the discipline and focus you need. Simply be in relationship with Jesus and observe as your body, mind and spirit (over time and as a result of  Christ living through you) becomes the temple of the  Holy Spirit.”