Not your body. Not your home.

 We live in a world that's all about us. There is a huge push for things like “self-love”, “self-empowerment”, and “this is my body I can do with it what I want”. And these movements are inevitable to come across your phone because they have overtaken pretty much all social media platforms- whether it be a march for rights on the news, a self-love page on Instagram, or even something as simple as a mirror picture at the gym- everywhere you look people are essentially advertising that they “love themselves” and you should too- but this self-love movement is dangerous.

We have been pushed to a point that we are believing the lie that we should be loving ourselves more than anything or anyone else- making ourselves the priority. Why is this not okay? Because we are the temple of God and a place for His spirit to dwell. 

If you are not a Christian this can be confusing. This life is your only life, so therefore this is your only body, so you should just do with it what you want, right? 

Well actually, that is the exact lie that the enemy wants us to believe, and it is scary how many people who claim to be Christians are living this way. (I used to be included in that group of Christians).

The reality is this- this world is not our home. This body is not our own. And my purpose in this life is not up to me to determine. I know this wrecks all of the lies that social media loves to tell us, but it's the truth and the word of God stands louder than the lies of the evil one. 

Scripture says in Proverbs 16, “we can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” in Hebrews 13, “For this world is not our home, we are looking forward to our everlasting home in Heaven.” In Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.”  and in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV), he asks, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price."

If God is real then His word is true, and therefore our response would be surrendering obedience to what is written. How could it not be? If you come to the acceptance and realization that God is actually real, and who He says He is, how can you not fall to your knees, get up, and walk in obedience for the rest of your days? We have to stop following the movement of self-love and start following scripture. 

Scripture is the opposite of how this world pushes us to live, which is how we can be confident it is straight lies from the enemy. This world wants you to take ownership of yourself. Love yourself enough so no one else has to. 

But ask yourself: how is this world doing? Well, anxiety, depression, and suicide rates are at an all-time high. My generation is suffering more than any other with mental health. So obviously “self-love” isn’t the answer to our problems- the answer is in scripture! It always has been!  

-Which is to live as this world and body are the Lords; not yours. The answer is to die to self and live for Christ.  

Romans 12:1-2 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God–"

Galatians 2:20-21 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

John 3:30 "He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less."

Our body was never our own. We are only here because HE gave us life. We only have breath in our lungs because HE breathed life into us. And we only have the gift of eternal life because HE died for us on the cross and defeated sin and death for us. 

He is the reason we have life, so let us live for Him in all things. 

I have the ability to breathe- praise God for breath in my lungs! Let every breath I breathe be a form of praise to You alone Jesus. 

I have the ability to play softball- praise you Father for a healthy body for Your Spirit to dwell in! Remove all pride that could linger in my heart. This body is not my own. Make me less Abba- make You more. 

I have the ability to speak, hear, see, and taste- Thank you Yahweh for Your creation and I pray that what I say, listen to, watch, eat and drink ALL bring You honor. 

-A living sacrifice. My body is only alive because He died for me. 

There was a time in my life that I was living selfishly. I worked out solely to be in shape for the approval of others (this is something I’m still wrestling with and praying for the Lord to remove from my heart). I used my body to fulfill my fleshly desires. In almost everything I did, I was not using my body as a sacred dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. It was MY body. And I loved my sin and MY BODY so whatever I did it was MY choice- I was so selfish. I was so prideful. I wasn’t mindful of the blood that Jesus shed for me. I didn’t consider the spirit of the one true God that I invited to dwell in my heart years ago. 

Instead, I listened to the world. I learned to love myself more and do whatever my body wanted when I wanted. Before I broke, I felt the lowest I had ever felt. I hated myself. I felt far from God, and soon I ran out of things to fulfill me. I found myself with absolutely nothing. 

Don’t do what I did. Stop listening to the world. Loving yourself more isn't the answer; falling in love with the Lord and growing in a relationship with Him more, IS.

If you have or are currently doing what I was doing, there is grace for us. Abundant grace. Your sin has been covered by the blood of Jesus Christ- so run to Him and away from the self-love movement of the world. 

Start to love not you- but instead Christ in you.


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