July 10, 2026 - Harmful or Helpful

Psalms 41:1-13

1 Corinthians 3:1-23

2 Chronicles 10:1-19

2 Chronicles 11:1-23

Bible in a Year Through Song - Day 191 of 365 - Bible App

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NIV

[16] Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? [17] If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

I had not noticed the words "you together are that temple". I have thought about the importance of taking care of our personal bodies. Once we have the Spirit of God in us, our bodies are the temple/dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. But thinking bigger, the body of Christ is also the temple of God's Spirit. Just as we should not cut off our own arm, drink poison, or do anything else that would harm our body, we should not do anything that would harm another Chrisitan.

2 Chronicles 10:6-11 NIV

[6] Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked. [7] They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.” [8] But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. [9] He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?” [10] The young men who had grown up with him replied, “The people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. [11] My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’ ”

Have you ever listened to your friends just because they are your friends. When we were young we all did things that were foolish all because our friends encouraged us to do it. There were always wiser more mature people that advised us against it, but we ignored them and joined our friends. Fortunately, we were not ruling a nation. But this makes me wonder how often I do this now. How often are there people in my life that are giving me God directed advise and even though I do consider it, the fact that I am not as close to them makes me look to my friends. Then, if my friends don't agree with it, am I more likely to act according to their advice. I can't think of a specific time that I have done that recently, but I do think that it is something I need to keep in mind. I pray that God would bring this story to my mind anytime I consider making the same mistake. And any of your who are part of the body of Christ is you see me heading the wrong way please speak up about it. To watch a brother or sister walk into foolishness is the same as harming the body. So please look out for me and I will do the same for you.

I guess when we are looking at the body of Christ, the temple of the Holy Spirit, we need to ask ourselves do we want to be helpful or harmful.