Glorify God in Your Bodies and in Your Spirits
Glorify God in Your Bodies and in Your Spirits
The General Message of the Lecture
The lecture revolves around a fundamental truth in Coptic Orthodox Christian faith: that a person no longer belongs to himself, but has become the possession of God who created him and redeemed him by His precious blood. From this perspective, a person is obliged to glorify God in his entire being: body, spirit, mind, and will.
First: We Are Not Our Own
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that man belongs to God in two ways:
- By creation: because God brought us into existence from nothing.
- By redemption: because we fell through sin, and God purchased us at a great price—the Incarnation, the sufferings, the Cross, and the precious blood.
Therefore, man no longer has the right to act independently of God’s will.
Second: Submitting to God’s Guidance
Since we are not our own, it is not fitting for us to lead our lives according to our own understanding, but rather to submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and surrender our lives to God in all decisions, following the example of the Virgin Mary who said, “Let it be to me according to your word.”
Third: Not Harming the Soul
Because the soul belongs to God, a person has no right to harm it in any way, whether physically or spiritually, since this is considered an offense against what belongs to God.
Fourth: Consecration and Glorifying God
God’s ownership of us leads us to a life of consecration, whether consecration of time or at least consecration of the heart, mind, will, and work to God, because our entire life belongs to Him.
Fifth: Glorifying God in the Body
God is glorified in the body when the body is pure, disciplined, worshiping, active in good works, submissive to the spirit, patient in suffering, serving others, and radiant with joy and cheerfulness.
Sixth: Glorifying God in the Spirit
Glorifying God in the spirit happens through purity of heart, humility, living faith, holy zeal, love for God and people, and the ability to draw others to God through conduct and good example.
Conclusion
Just as God has glorified man through creation, redemption, and sanctification, man is called to glorify God in his entire life. Whoever glorifies God, God will glorify him on earth and in heaven, and make him a source of blessing to others.
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