Body Language: Part One
We all know that body language communicates. Without saying a word, our expressions, actions, and posture can tell people what we’re thinking or feeling. But as followers of Jesus, our body language communicates something even deeper—it can tell the world what we believe about the God who lives inside of us.
As we begin the new series Body Language, we are reminded that God desires the whole person. First Thessalonians 4:4 says that each of us should learn to control our own body in a way that is “holy and honorable.” This isn’t about perfection or simply following a list of rules. It’s about surrendering every part of ourselves to God and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us.
Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5 that God Himself will sanctify us “through and through”—our spirit, soul, and body. There is no compartmentalized Christianity where we give God certain parts of our lives while keeping other parts for ourselves. God wants all of us.
We are made up of a spirit, a soul, and a body. Our spirit makes us aware of God and spiritual things. Our soul includes our mind, will, emotions, and intellect. Our body connects us to the physical world around us. As followers of Jesus, the goal is for all three to come into alignment, with our spirit being led by the Holy Spirit.
That process requires surrender. Our flesh and our spirit are often in conflict, and there will be moments when our bodies and emotions want one thing while God is calling us toward something different. Following Jesus means learning to bring those desires into submission to Him. It means choosing what honors God, even when it isn’t what we naturally feel like doing.
Our bodies are also described as temples of the Holy Spirit. We have been bought with a price, and because of what Jesus has done for us, we are called to honor God with our bodies. Salvation is free to us, but it cost Jesus everything. Our response is to offer ourselves back to Him as an act of worship and good stewardship.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll look at practical areas of our lives—including our minds, eyes, mouths, hands, feet, and sexuality—and ask an important question: Is this holy and honorable to the Lord?
Colossians reminds us to put off the old ways of living and put on the new self. We are called to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and above all, love. These are the things that reflect the God who lives within us.
The goal is simple: God wants the whole you to be made new.
Our bodies were created to reflect God.
Our bodies need to be surrendered to God.
And God can use every part of us for His purposes and His plan.
So as we begin this journey, there are three decisions we can make: surrender our spirit, soul, and body to God; allow Him to transform the areas of our lives that need to come into alignment with Him; and believe that He can use every part of us for His glory.
May our lives speak clearly about Jesus—not only through what we say, but through the way we live. May the people around us see something different and ask, “Why do you live that way?” And may our answer always point back to the God who lives in us.
The more we look like Jesus, the more beautiful we become.
