More on Self-Respect

Main Point: Self-Respect - I will take care of my body because God gave it to me.

Bible Story: Daniel chooses good foods. (Daniel 1)

Bible Verse: “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19 & 20 NLT

Read Daniel 1. “It’s just too hard to find healthy food.” “I just don’t have time to cook.” “I’m on a see food diet - everything I see, I eat.” Many of us treat food and eating as if we are held prisoner to the fast-food culture around us. But Daniel actually was held prisoner! And he managed to find a way to honor God with what he ate. Scripture doesn’t fill us in on the details of why Daniel found the food “unacceptable.” (Verse 8) It could be that the food had been sacrificed to idols and used in the worship of Babylonian gods. It could be that it violated Jewish dietary laws. It could be that it was simply unhealthy. The point is that Daniel knew that by eating the food, he would be defiled and dishonor God. Today we live in a shifting sea of fitness guidelines. The super-food of one decade, is the health-risk of another. Daniel wasn’t concerned with following the dietary fads of the world, but he was concerned with honoring God with what he ate. We should follow Daniel’s example.

Read 1 Corinthians 10:31. What you eat and drink affects your body. Your body is a gift from God and you honor Him by taking care of it. Are there foods in your diet that you need to declare “unacceptable” as Daniel did? Make the choices you need to make to honor God in what you eat and how you take care of your body.