Body, Soul, and Spirit

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him: male and female created he them (Genesis 1:27).

God created us in His own image, and just as there're three parts that make up the Godhead (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit), there are three parts to us (the body, soul, and spirit). The body is the tangible part of us -- the physical part that can see, hear, smell, speak, taste, touch, and move. It is our vessel, and it operates only in the world. 

The soul is the essence of who we are. Through it, we influence the world around us for good or for bad. Our personality and character are centered in our souls. It can operate on two levels: with the body in the temporal world or with the spirit in the eternal. After we come to know Christ, the Holy Spirit works to mold and refine this part of us.

The spirit is the part that can reach upward toward heavenly places and have a deep relationship with God, or it can reach down to the depths of darkness. By our spirit, we touch realms beyond us. When we come to Christ, the Holy Spirit indwells with this part of us.

And it is our choice how we cultivate and use our three components. We can grow our faith and become who God wants us to be, or we can be self-centered, materialistic, and uncaring. Even Christians can get caught up in worldly perspectives and values if they're not careful. The daily choices we make will lead us in one direction or another. Let's make choices that will give our body, soul, and spirit to God.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1Thessalonians 5:23).

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