“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”      1 Corinthians 6:19 – 20

“We are not our own: let not our reason nor our will, therefore, sway our plans and deeds. We are not our own: let us therefore not set it as our goal to seek what is expedient for us according to the flesh. We are not our own: in so far as we can, let us therefore forget ourselves and all that is ours. Conversely, we are God’s: let us therefore live for him and die for him. We are God’s: let his wisdom and will therefore rule all our actions. We are God’s: let all the parts of our life accordingly strive toward him as our only…goal.” John Calvin (1509 – 1564) “For All The Saints” volume I

Wow….could John Calvin say something that is more “anti-twenty-first century” than what he has said: “Let us therefore forget ourselves and all that is ours”. That flies in the face of the messages we hear every day. Each day we are told, on TV and radio and other advertisements, that we deserve so much – that we need to get what is ours, especially “our billions back” right “H & R Block”? “We are not our own”, Calvin says. This would never be a popular message in any campaign for office, any resume, any persuasive speech – to begin with the statement “I am nothing – I am not my own person”. Now, please, I am not saying that we dare not have any self-esteem. But I am saying that our identity begins with being G-d’s possession first – and the world’s second. We are to live for G-d – which means that we live for G-d first, then everyone else second – and ourselves third. “OK, pastor Dave, then where do we fit in if we are third on the list of priorities?”

Well, you may be married or single — male or female – gay or straight. Being here on this planet you are many things. You might be a spouse. You might be a child. You might be a sister or brother, aunt or uncle, cousin, friend. In other words, you are many things, but you are first a child of G-d. This should be what defines you. This is your starting point. We belong to G-d who loves us unconditionally. This not only gives us identity, but it also promotes our self-esteem – because whatever anyone else says about us, we are first children of G-d – who each day strive to live for G-d. When this is our goal, then it also gives us direction.

Pastor Dave