1 Corinthians 6:12-20

12 "I have the right to do anything," you say—but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both." The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh." 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins people commit are outside their bodies, but those who sin sexually sin against their own bodies. 19 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; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Questions to consider:

• What misapplication of Christian freedom does Paul attack? On what grounds?
• What misuses of the body does Paul specify?
• In what ways do you misuse your body?
• What should be Christian’s attitude toward his or her body?

Possibilities for prayer:

Free will is definitely a blessing, but sometimes it can be a bit troublesome as well. We often want to do things that are not in our best interest, though seem good at the time. Paul’s words that we ‘“have the right to do anything’” but that does not mean that “everything is beneficial” are wise ones. Today, let’s ask God for an increased desire for the things that are beneficial, so that we would not only do them, but desire to do them. As Paul writes, let’s honor God with our actions and with our bodies.