Love to Eat, Hate to Eat: Chapter 4

Chapter 4:

We are God's Temple

God does not call us to be consumed with thinness or beauty.

However, we should be concerned about caring for our God-given bodies.

Why?

We need to care for our bodies because each of us are a creation of God and because God purchased your body through the blood of Christ when you became a Christian.

1. We are God's creation...

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

Psalm 13:13-14

In Psalm 139 the writer starts by rejoicing in God's omniscience and his omnipresence. He is thankful that God is with him, no matter where he goes. He is thankful because God's thoughts are with him all of the time. Then the writer speaks about God lovingly creating his body. He is thankful that God created his body with specific strengths, weaknesses, and abilities. God created him specifically and uniquely in order to glorify Himself.

Our thankfulness for God's creation should come from a heart

that delights in His work,

not in our appraisal of it.

Have you considered lately how miraculous your body is? Think of all the amazing details that make your body function day in and day out. God made our bodies to reflect His image and likeness - our bodies are amazing! God has also made our bodies frail so that we depend on Him for strength. Have you ever considered being thankful that your body isn't perfect or that you aren't more beautiful? If you were "perfect" would you need to depend on God the way you do in your imperfection? When God made man and woman He said that it was very good. When He made you he spoke the same words. God doesn't make mistakes. He made you the way that you are on purpose and for the purpose of glorifying Him.

We are to eat healthy then because we are God's creation. We show honor and love when we care for the things that God has entrusted to us. When we care for our bodies we also make God known to the world around us.

2. Our bodies belong to God as his Sanctuary...

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? for you haev been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?... for the temple of God is holy; and that is what you are.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17

These verses explain that our bodies are dwellings for God's Spirit. Just like a temple building in Jerusalem, so too your body is set apart, occupied, and inhabited by God. Would you consider desecrating your church building? No. We must treat our bodies the same way; as holy because it is God's home just as the church is God's dwelling for His Spirit. The God who created the universe also fills and dwells inside of us. God's name "Immanuel" means "God with us."

Our bodies are on this earth will never be perfect or free from disease and death. Despite illness and imperfections, God wants us to treat our bodies with care so that we can be used to glorify Him. We are not to see good health as a god or idol. If you are focusing on perfecting your body for peace and joy then the work you can do for God may be hindered. Your body is a tool in the master's hands. When we are healthy He can use us to do His work.

Remember that caring for your body is not the goal of life - glorifying and loving God is. Caring for your body is merely a means to an end and one way to say thank you to the Lord for all the things He has done for you.

The Price He Paid...

1 Corinthians states that "we are bought with a price." The cost of our bodies is the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus paid his life, not only for our bodies, but our souls. Because of the great price He paid, we should glorify Him in everything we do. When you are tempted to sin, think of the cross. Jesus suffered and died so that we would be found blameless and pure in the sight of God. Instead of being controlled by the thoughts of food, exercise, starvation, purging or bingeing; be controlled by the cross. Be controlled by his great love and mercy towards you. We are His now, we are not our own. We can rest in Him knowing that we are redeemed and He has great plans for our lives.

Love to Eat, Hate to Eat

Elyse Fitzpatrick

Copyright 1999

The Battle is Won

In this life we are faced with battles of the heart.

You open the pantry and there they are. Cookies. The question isn't whether you eat them or not. It's a matter of motive. What is the motive of your heart in this situation? Are you seeking comfort by eating them? Are you seeking control by leaving them there?

It may seem silly to think about eating a cookie as a heart issue. But these daily choices often reveal a battle inside of us. In your heart, are you giving God supremacy or are you giving in to Satan's lies?

God reigns here. He is ruler and King over all that is created.

There are also evil forces at work here because we live in a fallen world. Satan's evil plans speak quietly in our daily lives. He often does not shout or make himself obvious. Instead, he often waits patiently, looking for weaknesses. He whispers lies. He hopes that we will believe one lie. One lie leads to another and another. He desires for us to believe his lies so that soon enough we forget God's truth and leave it behind.

While the battle between good and evil rages on this earth, we can have hope because the war is over. The battle is already won.

God sent his one and only Son to die on a cross for our sins. While we were still sinners, He died for us. Not only did he give His life, but He rose again. He is ALIVE. In that moment, Christ conquered Satan, death and hell. Evil has no victory over us because God has already proven himself victorious. 1 Corinthians 15:55 states, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" Verses 57 and 58 say, "Thanks be to God, He gives us victory though Jesus Christ. So, stand firm. Let nothing move you."

These verses tells us to leave our chains behind and live in freedom! Let God be victorious in your life today. Break the chains of guilt, shame, unforgiveness, fear, hopelessness and doubt.

In the words of Amazing Grace...

My chains are gone, I've been set free.

My God my Savior has ransomed me.

Like a flood His mercy reigns.

Unending love,

Amazing grace.

The battle is over and God is victorious.

There is NOTHING in this world that God isn't victorious over. Galatians 5:1 says, "Christ has set us free, stand firm and do not be enslaved again." Stand firm on His word and let NOTHING move you.

Out of Touch With Jesus...

Last week Daybreak staffer, Carmen Biggs addressed the issue of Being Out of Touch with Jesus.

During her wonderful and relevant message, she addressed 3 truths that help us reconnect with Jesus.

Listen to the audio:

http://daybreakweb.com/message/audio/142/Way_Out_of_Touch_With_Jesus_Blues_2.28.10.mp3

Or simply read her bullet points and some of my scratchy notes...

1. Realize that we are HANDCRAFTED

For we are God's masterpiece.

Ephesians 2:10

• God wants me to live out the purposes that He has for me, no one else!
• God made all of us to be different, to look different, serve Him differently and live out different purposes
• God doesn't grow us spiritually the same way, we all learn and grow different spiritually
• Ask yourself this question - What makes ME connect with God? What pathway (music, journaling, solitude, community) brings ME closer to God?
• Don't think about someone else and how they meet with Jesus - what draws YOU closer to Him?

2. Realize that we are MADE NEW

He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,

so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:10b

• We can have hope of something better to come (eternity) when we are made new!
• The more God makes me new, the more I become like the ME God intended me to be
• The more God makes me new, the more like Jesus I become
• Ask yourself this question: If I were new, what fear would I be free from?
• When we release fears, the Holy Spirit is free to do a great work in us
• Look forward to the good, leave behind the bad and don't have fear in the race
• Run towards something good and eternal, which brings joy and hope!
• Pursue WHATEVER causes you to set your mind on Jesus
• We have the freedom to pursue whatever allows us to connect with Jesus