Our 10-week Bible study is officially over and although it wasn't the easiest one, I'm glad I stuck it out til the end. Some studies are easier than others. this one was difficult because it was about the tabernacle of sacrifice and it had a lot of specifications for drawing it, etc. BUT this last week she really brought it home, as she always does, and I was really challenged.
On day 4 of the homework this week she said, "I can't show you the Old Testament tabernacle, but I can do better: I can show you the New Testament tabernacle. Have you received Christ as your savior? Then take a long, hard look in the mirror...you ARE the temple." I've known since I was a kid that my body is the temple of the holy spirit. There was never a question about that but sometimes when you've heard something your whole life then someone tells/shows you in a different way, it becomes a new revelation, and that's what happened to me today. I felt a new conviction to live in a different way.
We learned to draw the tabernacle in pretty much exact replification, ( i think i just made up a word lol) the tabernacle that the Israelites built. I won't go into any more detail other than saying the dimensions were perfect, precise, exact. God was PICKY!! He wanted, no demanded everything be a certain way, and He was just as picky when He created us. He could have made anything to live in but He created our bodies...and He likes them. Since He lives in us however, that means He experiences everything we do. Scary isn't it? I automatically feel bad when I think about some of the shows I watch on TV, some of the songs I belt out my lungs to, and some of the things I say. I'm almost appalled and yet I know He knew what He was getting into when He chose me, and He chose me anyway.
I put this in my status on facebook today and I'll say it again. I want to change some of the things I watch on TV, listen to, and say. I don't want Jesus to have to 'cover His eyes, hold his hands over His ears to outsing me,(he he) or hold His hand over His mouth' to try to stop from experiencing the things I do on a regular basis. I don't want to offend Him in any way. I want Him to be proud of me, proud that I'm his daughter, proud that I'm representing Him. That seems a little far-fetched to me at the moment but I still want it.
We are also supposed to take care of our bodies, keep then healthy and strong, to be able to live the life God wants us to have. Well, I haven't done a great job of that but I'm on a journey of renewal, and restoration and hopefully I'll see it through to the end. I know this isn't necessarily about size or weight, but we still need to respect and take good care of our temples. I could say that I've been working on fluffing myself up so Jesus has a comfy place to reside buuuut that's unfortunately not how it works. ;)haha
I'm glad I did this study and even more glad that God chose to speak to me so directly. I know I have some changes to make and I'm looking forward to seeing the fruit of that. With every bible study I feel like I grow a little closer to being the woman of God that I want to be. I cherish my Tuesday mornings with my lady peeps so much. <3
That's awesome to hear what God showed you, I never really thought about our bodies being that much of a tabernacle until this study. It's like you said that we've known it growing up but not to the extent. I can't wait to finish this study, I have a few more weeks to go.
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