Treat your body like a temple. I know you have heard it before. I certainly know I’ve heard it. Or maybe you’ve heard the flip side of it- treat your body like an amusement park.
In today’s post, I’m going to break down why you need to treat your body like a temple. We’ll discuss the why, and of course, we are going to take a very practical look at the how.
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Treat Your Body Like a Temple- Your body is a temple- You are the temple of God.
What does the Bible say about taking care of our bodies?
Our bodies were intricately made by the creator, our Father God. When most of us think about this topic, we automatically go to the “treat your body like a temple Bible verse.” And, I promise, we will get there. But I want to go back a little further first.
One of my grandpa’s favorite Bible Passages was Psalm 139, with very good reason. Let’s look at this passage starting at verse 13:
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” – Psalm 139:13-14
This goes back to the physical beginning of you… Your body is a temple! Do you see the care that God took in creating your body? He formed your inner parts, he KNIT you together. In this Psalm, David exclaims that this process of human creation is wonderful! His soul couldn’t help but revel at this, in awe and wonder.
Does your soul consider the loving care God took with creating your body? Does your soul rejoice over what God has done for you? I have to be honest. There are many times I take this for granted. Worse than that- I don’t just take it for granted, I wish for better.
I’ve had moments where I’ve looked down at my legs and wish my skin didn’t sometimes look like it had chicken bumps. And of course, I’ve spent many moments staring in the mirror wishing away pimples. And not just wishing them away, but spending good money trying to force improvements and perfection! But it’s not about perfection… it’s about stewarding what we’ve been given!
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Are you Thankful That Your Body is a Temple?
Where is my grateful heart in those moments? Where is my soul that’s supposed to be gazing in wonder at the glory of God’s creation?
Your body is a temple– let that stir your heart and soul to a place of awe and thankfulness.
The Treat Your Body Like a Temple Bible Verse
There’s actually not just one Bible verse that talks about how your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Here are a couple of them!
- “19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” – 1st Corinthians 6:19-20
- “16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” – 1st Corinthians 3:16-17
- “27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” – 1st Corinthians 12:27
These verses all come from 1st Corinthians and speak of the fact that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and that we are each parts of the body of Christ. What does that really mean? Your body is a temple of the living God. Let’s break this down further so that we can truly understand how powerful that is.
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Treat Your Body Like a Temple – The Why and the Meaning
We’re going to look at the text above from 1st Corinthians and understand what has been done by the Lord for us, and then, how we should respond.
There are 3 things (reasons) that tell us why you must treat your body like a temple, and what it means to treat your body like a temple.
First, we were created by God the Father. As we read earlier in Psalm 139, he knit us together in our mother’s womb. Great care was taken. He made it possible for healthy cells to multiply rapidly. Somehow, some of them became heart cells, some became brain cells, our eyes began to form, and before we knew it… we were whole.
A little farther into Psalm 139, David writes this:
“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” – Psalm 139:14
How can our souls not rejoice at this miracle of creation?
So, the first reason we are to treat our bodies like a temple is because we are created by God the Father.
Secondly, we were redeemed (body, soul and mind) by Jesus. Despite our miraculous creation, our hearts often travel far from the Lord. We are all sinners. Jesus stepped down from heaven, lived a perfect life, and through suffering and anguish, he redeemed us from the pit. We were bought with a price.
When he did this, he gave us opportunity to believe in him, accept him, and receive forgiveness of sins. If we do this, we then receive the Holy Spirit.
This is the third reason why our bodies are a temple. We are a temple of the Living God. The Holy Spirit lives in us.
Your Body is a Temple- Rejoice in that!
So, what does it mean for our bodies to be a temple? It means we have been through 3 levels of God’s care. Creation, redemption, and the bestowing and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Because of this, there is no greater reason to treat your body like a temple.
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How to Treat Your Body Like a Temple
From all we discussed above, it is clear that I am not my own, and that you are not your own. You are a temple of the living God, so it is important that you treat your body like a temple.
But how do we do this?
There’s so much talk about soul care, and that is the most important thing. Our souls are eternal, so that cannot be understated.
Now, in addition to that, God only gave us one body to live in… and that’s the body we’re in.
Let’s imagine the temple of God was a beautiful, physical building in our town. Only good was done at this temple, and it was the place where God lived. The views surrounding the temple were stunning… God’s beautiful creation was very apparent.
Now, imagine this… you and me, and a bunch of our friends come by and just start tossing junk at the temple, and in it. So, now the walls are dirtied, windows are broken, and soon there is a stench. The building no longer looks fully alive… it actually looks terrible. The physical health of the building began to fade.
Now, maybe that’s something we would never do, if God really had a physical home in our town. But here’s the truth: You are God’s temple.
What sort of junk have you been throwing at the temple? Have you been putting it through abuse after abuse? What kind of unkind thoughts have you hurled at it? Answer this for me… When it comes to treating your body like a temple, have you succeeded in caring for your body? Or have you spent more time ignoring or condemning it?
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Would you like some Bible verses about healthy living sent straight to your inbox?
I don’t want our conversation about taking care of God’s temple to end here. At The Grace To Grow, we’re all about how faith, health, relationships and the home are connected!
Fill in the form below, and I’ll send you an email with a free print-out of some awesome Bible verses about how your body is a temple, and Bible verses about healthy living. Seeing these verses on a pretty print-out each day will absolutely help you stay motivated to take care of your body… God’s temple.
I enjoyed this post. I don’t recall hearing anyone teach on bodies as temples in quite this way before. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Juanita!
I really enjoyed this post! Thank you for sharing. I’m at a time in my life where I am seeking ways to be more consistent with being healthy and active and as I strengthen my relationship with God, I thought what better way then to give glory to God in how I care for my body. You are giving me the extra push that I need. Thanks again.
Hi Keisha! I’m so glad you enjoyed this! If you’re looking for another extra push, we run a 3-week health group each month! Your goals align with ours, and we’d love to have you join us! If you’re interested, email me at admin@thegracetogrow.com
Thank you for this piece. It very very informative. This is a great lesson for all of Gods children to know.
Thank you so much, Kristie!
Thank you for this piece. It was very informative. This is a great lesson for all of Gods children to know.
This is LOVELY! Thank you for sharing this great insight and reminder that we are God’s temple.
Thank you so much for reading, Sheri!
Wonderful advice! I think, especially for us moms, we are often so busy taking care of everyone around us that we often time forget to take care of ourselves. However, just as our husbands and children are precious to God, so are we! And it is good to be reminded that our bodies are His temple and needed to be cared for.
Thanks for reading, Jacquelyn! I love your comment. It’s so true that we often forget about ourselves.
I thank you so much for this post.
am also a woman of faith. I’m a Holistic Wellness Coach and am so grateful to find likeminded women in this world sharing God’s love. 💜
Hi Daree! It is so nice to meet you! So glad you stumbled across this post.
I enjoyed this post.As I was writing a song that talks about the same message,this post helped me to write a powerful song by the grace of God.thank you very much.be blessed
Thank you so much for this post it was posted from a group I’m in on Facebook and was right at the right time. As we know nothing is by happenstance with God. I am trying to put my email in to get the Bible verse is healthy information but for some reason I’m not able to click on the link.
Hi Gina! I’m sorry, that’s so strange- I’m going to email it to you at the email address attached to this comment. Let me know if you receive it! I’ll throw something else in the email as well!
I enjoyed that, the RESPECT part got me! My biggest struggle is my eating!
Thanks Sissy!
Hi Cecily! Thank you for this post I’m leading a class on taking care of the temple of God. I was struggling a lot with how to present this and your post was very helpful and descriptive. Something I would like to be able to add to the class is some clean eating recipes. Sometimes the thought of just eating plain vegetables is boring. Can you help me with any recipes to pass out to the class as well.
Judy from Marysville Ohio
This article spoke to me. I absolutely love the style of your writing.
Thank you and take care.
Thank you for this post. I have told my children and many others that your body is God’s temple. He created you in perfection. What you do with your body is so much more important to God and his plan for you than you could ever imagine. If you choose to waste away the perfection of your body, his temple, in so many hundreds of ways of the flesh that that are available, such as overeating, smoking, over-drinking, unhealthy lust and sexual actions, drug additions so detrimental to the body, and harming or taking the lives of others of his creating, his penalty for you is death. We all die sooner or later but you decide the speed of your fate as written by his word.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
Hello Cecile,
Me too appreciating how you put this scripture in context. Feels like an important piece for me personally and for the nutrition and health coaching clients I serve. Have you included art with your workshops on this theme? If so, would love to hear more.
Deepest thanks,
Thank you. I have a question if I get vaccine, is that mean I defile the temple of God as we don’t know what is in it. I still researching about it. Thanks
Good Morning Cecily,
I Just turned 71 Years old this past January. While I take okay care of my body/God’s Temple. I Love God, and I really and seriously want to beautify my Body that God gave me. Thank You for this Post Very Much. Do you know anything about lymphedema and how to get rid of it in a healthy way? I want people to see that God lives within me. Thank you again.
Hi Gena! Thanks so much for your feedback! For lymphedema, exercise and massage can be very helpful!
I appreciated the article on taking care of our bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit. It was inspirational, and filled withe biblical truth! I need it!