1 Corinthians 6:19 — Your Body Is a Temple

Your Body Is a Temple

"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."
— 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV)

Reflection

God does not dwell in buildings made by human hands. He dwells in you. Your body, with all its weariness and ache, is the temple of the Holy Spirit. This is not metaphor; it is location. God has taken up residence in the very flesh you inhabit, the same flesh that feels too heavy to carry some days. When you wonder where God is, the answer is immediate: He is here, in you, closer than your next breath.

Paul asks, "Do you not know?" because this truth changes everything. You are not abandoned to your grief. You are not left to manage your pain alone. The Spirit of God lives within you, sustaining what you cannot sustain yourself. Your body may feel like a burden, but it is also sacred space. God chose it. He inhabits it. He will not vacate it because you are suffering.

Stop treating your body as an enemy. It houses the presence of God. When you neglect it, dismiss it, or punish it for failing you, you dishonour the Spirit who resides there. Care for your body not because you feel like it, but because it belongs to God. Eat. Rest. Move. These are not luxuries; they are acts of stewardship over holy ground. God's presence in you means your physical existence matters to Him.

Biblical Insight

Paul addresses the Corinthians in the context of sexual immorality, but the principle extends to all of life. The Greek word for temple is naos, referring to the inner sanctuary where God's presence dwelt in the Old Testament. By calling your body a naos, Paul declares that you are now the dwelling place of God Himself. The Holy Spirit is not a distant force; He is en hymin, "in you". Furthermore, "you are not your own" dismantles the illusion of autonomy. You belong to God by creation and redemption. Your body is His property, and He guards what is His.

In Application

• Acknowledge that God's presence resides in your physical body today.
• Care for your body as an act of honouring the Spirit within you.
• Reject the lie that physical neglect is acceptable during grief.
• Remember that God inhabits your weakness, not just your strength.

Practical Journaling

Reflect on 1 Corinthians 6:19, then write honestly:

• How have you been treating your body during this season of grief?
• What does it mean to you that the Holy Spirit lives within you physically?
• What is one way you can care for your body today as an act of worship?
• Write a prayer asking God to help you honour the temple He inhabits.

If writing feels too heavy today, simply place your hand over your heart and acknowledge God's presence there.

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