I was just thinking about ...

The Temple of God

          The year is now half over; how are your New Year’s resolutions going? Uh-huh, I thought so. Can you even remember them? Let’s face it, most New Year’s resolutions last about as long as a bag of M&Ms in a room full of teenagers. I believe I read somewhere that the average resolution is over by mid February. I felt good this year; my resolution lasted 3 weeks longer than that. My goal was to keep my office organized and my desk clear. I figured I could do my job better if I had a well organized office.

            Well, I did just that, I organized it. But funny things about offices, they get cluttered by themselves. “I didn’t put those things there, did I?” that’s the standard question I keep asking myself. And my desk, arghh … did you know that papers, books and videos grow little legs in the middle of the night and crawl up into the center of my desk? Well, I thought they had anyway. Next thing I know, the desk is piled high with those sleeping little creatures. And then I get depressed because my desk is cluttered, my office is cluttered, let’s face it, my life is cluttered.

            Strange as it may sound, all the resolutions are pretty much the same. They all have to do with making a change in one’s life for one’s self. People do the same when the Lent season comes around. What did you give up for Lent? Was it chocolate, potato chips, television or more cash to the church? All of these things are given up to make us feel better about ourselves, aren’t they? Come on, you say to yourself, “Why not give something up for God that will positively impact me?” “Don’t let that effort go to waste!” And then we talk ourselves into it.

            Think about that passage of scripture where Paul says, “Your body is a Temple of God ” Do we take care of our bodies for ourselves or for God? Exercising, avoiding vices, (yes, that includes massive doses of chocolate) and sticking to our medications are all ways to extend physical life. But they can also be ways to beautify the temple of God . Those improve your emotional outlook as well. When people gather around the Temple of God they expect to meet God. It’s the same with you and your Temple of God . God’s Spirit lives in you and people expect that if they know you’re a believer. So what happens if you let yourself run down and become sickly and/or depressed? People see a rundown Temple of God and ask, “No powerful God would live in there, would he?” Think about the image of God you portray when you let yourself go, especially if there’s something you can do about it but won’t.

            Is your life not what you would like it to be? Do you want to make some changes? Then make the changes for God and not for yourself. Don’t do resolutions, don’t give up for Lent. Give up for God. Submit all you have to God. And not just your precious belongings, but your weaknesses and faults, too. Give God all authority over them and watch him clean house. God may ask you to do certain things that will prevent them from coming back, but it can be done. And if it seems to be to tough, remember this quote that was given to me: “If God leads you to it, God will lead you through it.” Just a thought for the day. Hey, I gotta go, I think God wants me to do some cleaning. But

Drop on by anytime, I'll be here and so will God,

Dennis   

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