We reflect and pray about the shift from partners to friends we explored this week.
Loading Content...
Share a Link to this Message
The link has been copied to your clipboard; paste it anywhere you would like to share it.
CloseRyan Sim - February 19, 2014
Wednesday - Change It - Reset Body and Food
Hi, welcome to Redeem the Commute. I’m Ryan, your host of the Daily Challenges. Today’s Wednesday, so it’s the day we try to let our thoughts be challenged and transformed by the words of the Bible that we saw yesterday. This week, we’re looking at how following Jesus resets our view of food and the body. We saw yesterday how God didn’t give us things in this world, like food, or our bodies, or any other resource we have, for unlimited use and abuse. When we do that, what happens is it can become something to be worshipped. It can dominate our lives and control what we do and how we do it. Just think, if we allow food to become the center of our lives, if we pursue food to excess … we keep trying to find emotional stability, or love, or whatever it is, through food … it very quickly destroys our lives. It very quickly controls our lives. You just look at some of these stories of people who weigh hundreds or almost a thousand pounds, who are confined to their homes. Food has absolutely come to dominate their lives. It determines what they can do for a living, if anything. It determines when they can leave their house. Food has completely consumed them, even though they thought they were the ones consuming food. It’s an extreme example, but this can happen in smaller ways in all of our lives. When we take something in this life and we assume it’s ours to enjoy to unlimited excess, it very quickly takes over. It controls us. To use the language of idol worship, when we take something in this life and we pursue it to unlimited excess, we’re basing our lives around it. It’s like we’ve begun to worship as our god. Since it is just something physical in this world, that’s idolatry, whenever we take something God created and we pretend it’s Him. God has always given us limits on the resources that he’s given to us as a gift. First example was in the Garden of Eden, when God created a garden with all the food that the humans He put in that garden could ever need. He said, “Don’t eat from that one tree, of the knowledge of good and evil.” God gave a limit, that this world wasn’t created for us to destroy and overrun. It was created for us to live in under God’s care and guidance. When humans went ahead and ate that fruit they weren’t supposed to eat, they were jumping out from under God’s care and guidance, and saying they wanted to worship themselves, and their decadence, and their feelings of contentment, and their feelings of power, more than God. Later in the history of the Bible, we see the nation of Israel being given all sorts of explicit instructions by God, especially around food. What kinds of foods were safe for them to eat, what kind of foods were unclean. Some of those laws seem arbitrary to us today, but we can see how, looking back, they were made to preserve the Israelite people to be God’s people through history. God had a plan for them, and food was at its center. Limits on food were at the center of God’s laws for that people. God wanted them to know that they were under God’s care and provision, and under God’s love as His chosen people. Part of that was symbolized in how He gave them limits on their consumption of food. Paul reminds the Corinthians that they were bought at a price, kind of like the Israelites were brought at a price when God led them out of Egypt, out of slavery into freedom. The same way, he’s saying, Christians in Corinth, you were bought at a price. He uses the language of ransom, somebody paying the ransom, not to free somebody who was kidnapped, but to free somebody with such a debt they could never repay it on their own. Somebody would come to a market, find somebody like that, and buy them out, buy them essentially as a servant, and say, “I will release you from your debt. You don’t have to pay that debt to other people, that now you work for me. You can pay it off by working for me.” Kind of like when at a restaurant, somebody can’t pay their bill, they might end up doing dishes in the back until it’s all paid off. Paul uses the language of ransom. He says, “Corinthians, you have been paid for a price,” reminding them of that, to remind them that their bodies are not their own. They didn’t create themselves. They didn’t buy themselves. God created them. Even when they rebelled against God, God bought them back with His own blood by coming to Earth as Jesus Christ and dying for us. Jesus bought our debt for us, paid it off, a debt we could never repay on our own. We so separated ourselves from God through something called sin that we could never get back to Him on our own. The ultimate sign of that separation was our death, our spiritual and physical death being the final end of our lives. Jesus took that debt upon Himself, He took death upon Himself, die for us, so we could have freedom. He paid the price to free us, not to have unlimited freedom and just run off, and run amuck, and do whatever we wanted, but so we could now work for Him. He paid the price that we needed to pay. He paid our bill here at the restaurant so we could now work for Him. When the Corinthians, or we, abuse our bodies, when we don’t treat them well today, what we’re doing is we’re basically pretending they’re our own. That we weren’t bought at a price but that we own everything we have, that we created it all from nothing, that we’re essentially God. That’s why Paul wanted to remind the Corinthians they were bought at a price. You are not God. You owe a debt. Your freedom was bought at a price. Your bodies were bought at a price. Treat them as if they were precious, knowing how much you lost before and how much you gained through Jesus Christ. Followers of Jesus don’t have the luxury of pretending our bodies are our own. We always need to remember that we were bought at a price by Jesus. Following Jesus resets everything, including how we view our bodies and food. There’s another line from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Shortly after Paul applied this whole food argument to sexuality, he concluded by talking about our bodies in a very specific way. He said, “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, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” This whole body-is-a-temple thing is a common line for bodybuilding guys to remind people around them, especially women, that their body is a temple and should be worshipped. No, the temple was never made to be worshipped. For the Jewish people, the temple was a building where God’s physical presence on Earth was going to reside. God was the one to be worshipped, not His building. When Paul says “your body is a temple,” he’s reminding them that since they were bought at a price, the Holy Spirit now resides in them. God’s spirit is now in them. Their body is a temple. All the reverence that was once shown to the physical building of the temple now needs to be shown to their physical bodies, since God resides in them and God bought them. Their bodies now belong to God as followers of Jesus. I’ve got a question for you to consider today and hopefully discuss with others you know from the commute, or from work, or from home. Here’s the question. Question: How should a Christian treat their body differently, since it is a temple for the Holy Spirit? How can we show reverence and respect for the body as a temple bought by God, and not our own? Have a great discussion. Don’t forget we’re reading the Bible in sync as a community, so check our website or app to see what today’s reading is. Have a great one. I’ll see you tomorrow.
Related Topics: Body, Drugs, Food, Sex | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio
From Series: "Reset"
When our computers get bogged down and unmanageable, we know to hit a reset button to simply start over. Wouldn't a reset button be great in life? We know it would be complicated, with all our responsibilities and routines to consider, but imagine the freedom and refreshment of a new start in life! What would you do differently? What would you pay more attention to, and what would you ignore? How would you avoid getting bogged down and broken again? The great news is, in coming to earth as Jesus Christ, God has begun to "reset" our universe, our world, and even us. We're invited to start over with him, in what he calls his kingdom. We're invited to start a new life with a clean slate. What gets wiped clean, and lived differently, when God resets our lives? We'll explore how God resets these key areas of our lives: Reset: Goals Reset: Time Reset: Money Reset: Work Reset: Body & Food Reset: Sex & Marriage Reset: Family Reset: Compassion Reset: Nature Reset: Society Reset: Death Join us for the next several weeks, and invite God to reset your life.
More Messages From Ryan Sim...
Wednesday - Change It - Revolutionary | October 1, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Revolutionary | September 30, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Revolutionary | September 29, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Shepherd | September 26, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Shepherd | September 25, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Shepherd | September 24, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Shepherd | September 23, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - Act On It - Shepherd | September 22, 2014 | AGT | Watch | Listen | |
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Potential | September 19, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Potential | September 18, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Potential | September 17, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Potential | September 16, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Potential | September 15, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneers and Power | September 12, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneers and Power | September 11, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneers and Power | September 10, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneers and Power | September 9, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneers and Power | September 8, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneers and Profit | September 5, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneers and Profit | September 4, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneers and Profit | September 3, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneers and Profit | September 2, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneers and Profit | September 1, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneers and Philosophers | August 29, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneers and Philosophers | August 28, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneers and Philosophers | August 27, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneers and Philosophers | August 26, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneers and Philosophers | August 25, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneers and Politics | August 22, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneers and Politics | August 21, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneers and Politics | August 20, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneers and Politics | August 19, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneers and Politics | August 18, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneers and Prerequisites | August 15, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneers And Prerequisites | August 14, 2014 | Extra | Watch | Listen | |
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneers And Prerequisites | August 13, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneers And Prerequisites | August 12, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneers And Prerequisites | August 11, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneers and Pagans | August 8, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneers And Pagans | August 7, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneers And Pagans | August 6, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneers And Pagans | August 5, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneers And Pagans | August 4, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Pork | August 1, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Pork | July 31, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Pork | July 30, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday- Study It - Pioneer Pork | July 29, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Pork | July 28, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Prodigy | July 25, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Prodigy | July 24, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Prodigy | July 23, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Prodigy | July 22, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Prodigy | July 21, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Progress | July 18, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Progress | July 17, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Progress | July 16, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Progress | July 15, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Progress | July 14, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Players | July 11, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Players | July 10, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Players | July 9, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Players | July 8, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Players | July 7, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Pain | July 4, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Pain | July 3, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Pain | July 2, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Pain | July 1, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Pain | June 30, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Priorities | June 27, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Priorities | June 26, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Priorities | June 25, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Priorities | June 24, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Priorities | June 23, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Proof | June 20, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Proof | June 19, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Proof | June 18, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Proof | June 17, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Proof | June 16, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Pushback | June 13, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Pushback | June 12, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Pushback | June 11, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Pushback | June 10, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Pushback | June 9, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Preaching | June 6, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Preaching | June 5, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Preaching | June 4, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Preaching | June 3, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Preaching | June 2, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Practices | May 30, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Practices | May 29, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Practices | May 28, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Practices | May 27, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Practices | May 26, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Act On It - Pioneer People | May 23, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer People | May 22, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer People | May 21, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer People | May 20, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer People | May 19, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Spirit | May 16, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Spirit | May 15, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Spirit | May 14, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Spirit | May 13, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Spirit | May 12, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Story | May 9, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Story | May 8, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Story | May 7, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Story | May 6, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Story | May 5, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - 2014 Status Update - Grace in Lifestyle | May 2, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - 2014 Status Update - Generosity of Resources | May 1, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - 2014 Status Update - God in Worship | April 30, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - 2014 Status Update - Groups in Community | April 29, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - 2014 Status Update - Growth in Discipleship | April 28, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Resurrection | April 25, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Good Friday - Death for Jesus | April 18, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Death is Coming for Jesus | April 17, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Death is Coming for Jesus | April 16, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Death is Coming for Jesus | April 15, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - Death is Coming for Jesus | April 14, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Disappointment | April 11, 2014 | Watch | Listen |