This past Sunday, with hands raised, I found myself overwhelmed with gratitude as I sang with fellow believers in worship. I was grateful for my heavenly Father who cares for me. Thankful for Jesus, the cross, the suffering, the victory. As the words of the songs filled the sanctuary I was aware that everything was created by God to glorify God; every situation ordered to bring good to those who love Him. My heart overflowed. Why?
I read a book that was recommended to me, “Glorifying God in your Body – Whose Is It – Yours Or His?” by Albert N. Martin. It is a short volume and can be easily read in a single sitting. I chose to follow-up the Scripture references during a second read. The book addresses the subject of glorifying God by how we care for our bodies without falling into body worship.
I was coming to the end of a twenty-two year pastorate. Retirement was only a few short months away. I felt I had poured myself out into the lives of the believers I was called to shepherd. Looking back, I see where I confused a lack of self-care with sacrifice. I rationalized that I didn’t have time to exercise properly even though I lived a sedentary life behind a desk. I didn’t have time to eat properly because there was always something to be done. The root cause of my lack of self-care was guilt, not sacrifice. God would be angry with me for not sacrificing enough. The people I cared for would be angry with me because I wasn’t doing enough. Guilt was driving me; a desire to please everyone was crushing me. I was not glorifying God in my body.
God used Martin’s book to begin exposing an unrecognized fault to the cleansing and freedom of Christ. I would begin a process of questioning, studying, and seeking His face that would be at times painful and revealing.
I am learning. I’m learning to present my body as a living sacrifice, a temple that houses the Spirit of God. I am learning how to maintain this body temple just as the priests maintained Solomon’s temple. I want it useful to the God who deserves all praise. Learning is opening a door of freedom that is leading to greater thankfulness and joy in daily life.
It’s good to see you are still writing my friend. Glad to see you are on the mend too.