18 Run from sexual immorality! “Every sin a person can commit is outside the body.” On the contrary, the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body. 19 Don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20).
If we are Christians, then we are not our own, but we belong to Another, namely, to God. Why is it that we belong to God? Well, in one sense, we all belong to God because He is the Creator of all things, but in another sense, Christians, particularly, belong to God because we are “bought at a price.” What “price” is that? It is the price of the blood of Christ. As Christians, we’ve been purchased with “currency” that cannot be measured nor can it be quantified. Just one drop of Christ’s blood is immeasurable and has value that far surpasses the greatest riches of this world. As a result of being bought with the precious blood of Christ, Paul concludes, “Therefore glorify God in your body.” In view of the fact that we belong to Christ, in view of the fact that our salvation is so precious and that Christ’s death is of a value that no scale can register, we are compelled to glorify God with our bodies.
Now, within the immediate context of this passage it is speaking of sexual immorality, particularly, with prostitutes (see 1 Corinthians 6:15-16). Paul is making the case that we should glorify God with our bodies, within the context of sexual relations. It is clear that we are to use our sexual members to glorify God. If we are married, then the purpose of our sexual parts is for the purpose of becoming “one” with our spouses (see Genesis 2:24) and no one else. Having sex with my spouse is the God-ordained way for us to glorify God with our bodies within the context of marriage. If we are single, then we glorify God by abstaining from a sexual union knowing that it’s purpose is only between a husband and a wife.
With all that being said, I do believe that we can extend the concept of “therefore glorify God in your body” to mean every part of our bodies. Certainly Paul wouldn’t object to the concept that our eyes, ears, noses, arms and legs, etc., are all created for the purpose of glorifying God as well. Given this concept, gaze upon the prayer below and let us make it the cry of our hearts to glorify God with our bodies, with every member of our bodies.
May God be gracious to grant the answer to our prayer below for Him to be glorified in our bodies.
“God, how would you like for me to use my body? My body belongs to You. I am under Your ownership, therefore, I am simply a steward of my body. God, how would You desire for me to use my eyes? In what ways can I use my eyes to glorify Your name? What would You desire for me to see, and to not see, so that through my eyes Your glory may shine? Lord, how can I use my ears for Your glory? What would You desire, O Lord, as the ultimate Owner of my ears, that they hear or not hear? Which sounds, which music, which voices do you desire that my ears hear that would bring You the most glory? In which ways can I use my mouth for Your glory? Which words best glorify You? Which words best represent You, as the Owner of my mouth? Conversely, which moments of silence can also glorify You? Show me when I should speak and when I should not speak so that Your fame may be spread throughout the earth. Lord, show me how to use my feet, which are Yours, to bring glory to Your name. Which paths in my life must my feet walk to make Your name known? Also, which paths must I cease traversing, knowing that some paths lead to shame, ruin, and dishonor not only to myself, but more importantly to You and Your kingdom. Oh Lord, in whatever way you desire, I submit my physical body to You, knowing that it does not belong to me, but that it, and all its members, belong to You. I realize that I am not my own and that I was bought with a price. Whenever I am tempted to sin, remind me, O Lord, of the precious blood that was spilled so that I might have the honor and privilege of being called Your child. Thank You, Lord, for my body through which I might bring You glory. Guide me, show me, lead me, rebuke me, correct me, and do whatever You must to bring glory to Your name in my life, in my body. In Your Name, Amen.”