“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit…?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Lula and I and several of our adult kids are currently on vacation in our old home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We have only one week to clear out our house, which we wish to rent out. A tall order but the Lord is blessing us with fantastic people who are assisting us mightily. Yesterday we hired some men from a local foundation to help us get a grip on our yard. This organization provides structure for those who have been “around the block” and helps them get back into the workforce. Their supervisor “Bob” was a tough looking guy in his late 20s. I struck up a conversation. “Bob, you probably hear this a lot,” I said, “but do you know Jesus?” Breaking into a wide grin, he replied, “Yes, sir, I do. I came to Christ a few years ago. This is not a Christian organization as such. It’s more like the military. But a preacher comes to us on Sundays, and we have a Bible study every Monday night.” “That’s so good to hear,” I replied. Bob went on: “I’ve had a rough life. I was on opioids from the age of 8 and I’ve broken 33 bones. Rodeos, motorbikes, and fights… But Jesus drew me up out of the pit.” That sounded a lot like Psalm 40… “Do you read your Bible?” “Yes, sir, I do. I need it for my soul.” “Absolutely,” I said and added: “But your body is important too. It’s the temple of the Holy Spirit. To recklessly damage your body or put it at risk was actually an insult to God. He made your body. But He also gave his Son to die for you and forgive you all your sins so that you would believe in him and have eternal life.” “Yes, sir. I do believe that.” “What about your men? Are they Christians too?” “I don’t really know,” he answered. “But I try to be a good role model and lead a clean life and help other people. I want to give back for all that God has given me.” “Keep up the great work, Bob, and God bless you and your men.” He grinned, looked me in the eyes, and gave me a firm handshake. And thank God for such organizations that put men back on track and allow many of them to realize that our body—made and redeemed by Jesus—is indeed the temple of the Holy Spirit.
The Tiews in Germany 