Who's Trashing The Temple?
by
Rebecca Somoskey
Cara hurried to sit beside her friend Jill. Mrs. Johnson, her Jr. Class teacher, was ready with another neat lesson.
After prayer Mrs. Johnson asked, "What is the temple of God?"
Someone answered, "The church."
Someone else said, "The church sanctuary."
"You're right," she said, "but not entirely. Anywhere God meets with His people is His temple. This room is His temple because He meets us here as we study His Word." Then she asked, "Who keeps this temple clean?"
"The janitor," Jill replied.
"That's right." Mrs. Johnson said, "It's important to keep the temple of God clean." Then she nodded to Chris. "OK, Chris, it's your turn."
Everyone gasped as Chris dumped a bag of paper trash all over the floor.
Mrs. Johnson asked, "Is this temple fit for God's presence?"
Everyone shouted, "No!"
"Why?" she asked.
Someone answered, "It's been trashed."
"How can we make it fit for God's presence?" she asked.
"Clean it up," Cara called.
"Good answer! Now, I need two helpers."
Cara and Jill rushed forward to help. When the floor was clean Mrs. Johnson placed two trays on the table. "Today I would like you to share refreshments with me. Help yourselves."
One tray was filled with candy, cookies and chips. The other one had cheese, fruit, and raw vegetables.
"O-o-o!" Cara said. "I love junk food." She chose candy, cookies and chips.
After everyone had served themselves Mrs. Johnson announced, "Before we eat I want everyone to listen." She read 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple." Then she read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body."
Then she asked. "If you eat all that's on your plate will your body, God's temple, be clean or trashy?"
Cara studied her food, then dumped it into the trash and reached for an apple, some cheese and celery.
To Think About: Do you eat nourishing food and get plenty of exercise? Do junk foods trash your body? Do drugs, alcohol and tobacco? What do you need to do about it?
To Remember: "If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are." 1 Corinthians 3:17 (NKJV)
To Pray: Dear God, I belong to Jesus because He paid for me when He shed His blood on the cross. You want me to take care of my body so it will be fit for Your Spirit to dwell in. Help me to eat good food, drink plenty of water and exercise every day, because I know this will be pleasing to You. Amen.
