Invitation to build

Don't you see that you can't live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.
(I Corinthians 6:19-20)

We began to look at the concept of being bought (purchased) with a price that was far too great for any of us to pay - the life of the Son of God. That purchase moved us into the unique position of being another's possession - owned by another.  Today, we will explore what kind of obligation this places us under - what does being owned by Christ - indwelt by his Spirit - mean for us in our day to day walk?

It is possible for us to "own" something, yet not be in full possession of it.  A few years back, the city of Phoenix had a freeway construction project planned that brought this to light for many homeowners in the area.  They came to realize that they had purchased property that was merely part of a "land lease" - the house belonged to them, but the property upon which it was built was really not their own.  It belonged to the city - just leased to them to build upon.  This never seemed like an issue until the one who owned it wanted full possession of it!

When Jesus asks for full possession of our lives - body, soul and spirit - he is asking for access to not only our spirit, but all that gets "built" into our character.  He is like the city - he wants the land AND the house - for the special purpose of building what he sees as most important in our lives.  It is possible for us to be in relationship with the Lord and still not be fully his.  We go about building into our lives what we think is important - exclusive of what he wants for us.  When we do this, we remain slave to the pulls of our flesh - responding to the sin nature that drives us.

We are bought out of slavery to our sin nature - the price for our sin being paid, we are to live in service to the one who paid the price - responding to the new nature he places within.  We are to be of use to him - responding to him as he desires.  What was accomplished in the payment of the "purchase price" is to have an affect on our entire being - nothing held back for our own purposes.  Paul reminds us that our bodies are to reflect the work of Christ.  People are to see the image of the Creator in us.  In other words - if God wants the "land of our lives" for a freeway - so be it!

Tomorrow, we will consider what it means to be "owned by Christ".  Today, consider what areas of your life you are maintaining control over (building what you want to see built).  It is possible that God is receiving honor from those things.  Getting an education is an honoring thing to God - applying ourselves to learning is not a sinful thing in and of itself.  Yet, getting that education with the intent that we climb a career ladder exclusive of God's direction in our  lives can be sinful.  God wants to be in the decisions of our lives, central in our focus, creating what will bring him the greatest honor.  As owner of our lives, he wants to direct the outcomes of our steps.

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