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 glorify God with your body. – 1 Corinthians 6:20

Today’s Christians are driven too much by their feelings.  Many Christians feel strongly about a subject, tradition, political affiliation, or cause and it appears to the rest of the world that they care more about those things rather than advancing the kingdom of God.  Social media is full of people’s feeling-driven opinions.  I often wonder:  Out of 1,000 posts, or out of 1,000 general comments made to other people, how many simply asked the Lord if what is about to be said will bring glory and honor to Him?

It is a constant struggle for me to not be driven by my feelings.  In a world where everyone else seems to just say whatever is on his or her mind, it is ridiculously hard for me to not join in.  Reading the Bible regularly teaches believers not to trust feelings.  It didn’t matter how Daniel felt about being placed in the den of lions, he had to be obedient to God.  It didn’t matter how Stephen felt about being pelted with rocks, he had to speak the truth. It didn’t even matter how Jesus felt about drinking the cup full of your sin and my sin, even He resolved to do the will of the Father.  It did not matter what He “felt” like.

Why in the world do I write this today?  I think because I am pretty much physically and emotionally exhausted.  I don’t know why, but teaching just gets incredibly hard at this time of the year.  It is more important than ever that I don’t let what I feel like affect my attitude towards my students and my work.  It is just as important that I teach with the same passion and fervency that I had at the beginning of the school year.  How can the general public possibly believe that God makes a difference in the life of a believer if believers are just as miserable, and sometimes even more miserable, than those who don’t even claim to know God?

Christians, do not be governed by your feelings today.  You might want to quit, but don’t quit.  You might want to dial it in, but you just don’t get to.  We are representatives of our God and King.  In this life we learn to do the things we ought, regardless of the temptation to do otherwise.  If we remain faithful, we will receive an inheritance as a reward.

Therefore, glorify God with your body.

Lord, help me to live by principle, not by feelings.  Help me to live by every word that proceeds from your mouth, and not just by bread alone.  You bought me and paid for me in full at Calvary.  I imagine you weren’t very excited to pay that price, but you paid it.  Help me in turn to just do whatever it is that I’m doing like I’m doing it for you, Lord. If I quit every time I felt like quitting, I’d be nowhere.  Thank you for thinking that I’m worth dying for.  Help me to honor you with my life, for you are worth living for.

Amen.

Adam