Nougat 17

How do we feel when we volunteer our service to help someone and it is taken for granted? Especially when the person really needs your help? As we reflect on today’s Holy Nougat; let’s chew with a desire to transform ourselves.

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,” 1 Corinthians 6:19 NLT

One of the greatest culture shocks to my Caribbean sensibilities was the discovery of European’s love for cigarettes. I just have NEVER seen so many people smoking. Not even in Jamaica, which is stereotyped as another kind of smoking capital. As one who does not smoke, and who knows the danger of secondhand smoke, I’m not fond of their pass time. Not in the least. And less so with those who derive pleasure in staying right next to a group of non smokers who were in the space first. How rude.

Sometimes the temptation is to get on my soapbox and preach to them about the damage they’re doing to themselves. But soon (often within seconds) I’m reminded of my own struggles with losing weight. And in that moment it quickly comes home to me that most, perhaps all of us have displeased God’s Spirit in our lifestyles. We treat our bodies any old how and find ways to justify our poor self care.

What if we truly took the idea of our bodies as God’s dwelling place? And what if we came to the realization that God’s Spirit is our personal Gift Who desires to help us overcome our poor habits? Would we make different lifestyle choices? Would we stop procrastinating and actually allow God’s Spirit to clean us up and transform our lives within and without? For of a truth, the one is impacted by the other.

I know that I don’t enjoy being taken for granted. Yet, each time I overindulge; each time I fail to exercise; each time I neglect good self care practice (especially since Covid) I am like those who take God’s gifts for granted. If we see ourselves as God’s; we ought to be more conscious about taking care of God’s property.

Can we decide today, that with intentional reliance on God’s Spirit, we shall take better care of God’s temple. Perhaps our lives depend on it.

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May all we seek be found in Christ