Devotionals

Not Your Own

by Jennifer Woodley 
04/18/24
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'O do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?' 1 Corinthians 6:19 (ESV)

This teaching is so counter-cultural. Everywhere we turn, our culture is awash with personal autonomy and self-sufficiency. Ignoring all God-ordained limitations, humankind shouts loudly, “We are in control. We can do whatever we want and become whomever we want!” More and more people believe that they can choose their own gender, the time of their death and whether the child in the womb will be born or not. Increasingly people are becoming bent on serving themselves and ignoring their neighbor rather than serving their Creator.

The antidote to sinful self-indulgent living is to heed Jesus' command for all to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Christ. (Matthew 16:24). As believers we have been joined to Christ by the Holy Spirit. We have, as Paul says, been bought with a high price. Christ's death means that we ought no longer live for ourselves but for Him. We have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives within us (Galatians 2:20).

Do you know that God has called and chosen you to have fellowship with His Son, Jesus, who is your Lord? If this is the case, we are to renounce ourselves as the all-consuming centre of our lives and refocus our attention, affection and praise on the One who dwells within us. We belong to Christ and not to ourselves any longer.

'Father, forgive me for my selfishness. I long to serve and put you at the very centre of my life. Help me in this, I pray. Amen.'