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“The Turn from Freewill to Addition”

Thoughts for Today:

There are some Christians who say they have the right to do whatever they want with their own bodies. Then, conversely there are others who quote our passage today and say, "Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, therefore if we dishonor it, then we dishonor God." This debate has raged for centuries and has given rise to all sorts of disagreements -- many of which have led to the breaking of fellowship.

So what's right? Is smoking cigarettes a sin? Doesn't smoking harm the body, and therefore dishonor God's temple? Then what about over-eating, drinking diet sodas, or any number of other things we do regularly that the medical establishment has determined is "bad" for us? Where do we draw the line?

I think the key is when we do something that we call our own freewill, but in reality is slavery to our own desire, or places us in bondage to a substance. In my own life, I've observed the physical craving I get for carbohydrates (breads and sweets for example). So when I eat too many carbs, have I sinned against God? The answer is "sometimes." In my opinion, when anything we're doing turns from freewill to the destructiveness of addiction -- it becomes a sin against our body and God's Holy temple.

Questions to Ponder:

I think the main point Paul makes in our passage today is to get in control of what we're doing. To not intentionally do things to our bodies that we know to be damaging. And in any case, to not succumb to any power other than God's. What power have you become susceptible to? Over-eating? Smoking? What would God have you do? What would honor Him the most?

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About the author

Pocket Devotions are written by Mike Brooks. A retired businessman, he is Moderator of South Shores church, leads the Deacon Board, serves on the finance committee, and he teaches a Men's Bible study and the Men's Ministry. Mike has a passion for evangelical missions. He is the husband of Sherry; the father of Ryan, Natalie, Krissy, Rebecca, and Amanda; the father-in-law of Ariel; and the grandfather of Conner and Christian.