My Body. My Choice. #ChristianLiving #Scripture

“It’s my body so it’s my choice!”

We live in a country where freedom is the way of life. It was fought with and bought by the blood of countless lives.

While God gave us free will – as in having the freedom to make our own choices – there are some choices that would do more harm to us as Christians if made for the wrong reasons.  

“My body, my choice!”

While this country is governed by the Constitution as well as the Bill of Rights, we as Christians must live by God’s standards above these.

As believers in Christ, we are to mirror His character and qualities.

1 Corinthian 6:19-20

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.

I Peter 2:21

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

Jesus gave His life so that we may be freed from the bondage of sin.  It is a gift freely given and it is our choice whether or not to accept it.  When we choose to accept this eternal gift, our bodies thus become temples where the Holy Spirit dwells.  A temple which we have been commanded not to defile with carnal actions of this world. Instead, we are to follow Christ’s example on how we should live.

How do we follow His example?

One of the greatest examples is loving others as He has.

John 13:34-35

 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

Paul in his letter to the church in Ephesus provided other ways to live in this world as His examples:

Ephesians 5:1-11

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved childrenand walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

God has called us believers to be holy which in other words is to be set apart from this world.

Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Sadly, many believers (as well as churches) are becoming more accepting of this world.  It is true that as believers we are commanded to love others (this includes enemies aka nonbelievers) this does not mean we are to accept their sinful lifestyle. As God’s people, we are also commanded to be different, nonconformists, for we live by the standards set by God, not man.

James 4:4

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

How do we as believers know that the choices we make are the right ones?

To know the heart and thoughts of God, we need to be in His Word for we are to seek Him out in everything we do – for this is the way of knowing His will, His answer for any given circumstance.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

By spending time in worship and His Word, we will be able to discern His Will from our own.  Many believers (as well as nonbelievers) have tried to take Scriptures to fit their own beliefs instead of the Truth. This is why His Word can act as a sword that cuts us to the core.

Proverbs 30:6

Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

God’s Word often time will say something we don’t want to hear because it doesn’t fit what we believe to be true. This is when we must allow the Holy Spirit to do the discerning for us as our hearts may not always be in the right place.

To make the right choices as believers, we are to seek His will through His Word and allow the Holy Spirit that dwells within us to show us the right path.

Isaiah 55:8

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

Our choices should reflect who Jesus is.

If you’re still unsure if the choice is the correct one, then ask yourself this:

If Jesus was standing right beside me, would I make this choice?