Exodus 25 - 27

GOD spoke to Moses: "Tell the Israelites that they are to set aside offerings for me. Receive the offerings from everyone who is willing to give. These are the offerings I want you to receive from them: gold, silver, bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet material; fine linen; goats' hair; tanned rams' skins; dolphin skins; acacia wood; lamp oil; spices for anointing oils and for fragrant incense; onyx stones and other stones for setting in the Ephod and the Breastpiece. Let them construct a Sanctuary for me so that I can live among them." Exodus 25:1-8 THE MESSAGE

Right now in our home we have been having a reoccuring discussion on tatoos and body piercings with our three teenagers. It seems to be a trend in the young people in our church to get a "Christian" tatoo.

God gave Moses very specific instructions for the construction of a Sanctuary for Him to "live among them." When Jesus came, God no longer dwelled in a temple made of human hands, but came to live within us. If we are God's temple, and made in His image, why would we want to put a permanent mark our bodies? When I harmonize the principles of the Old and New Testament, I find it hard to believe for a Christ-follower that tatooing our bodies is acceptable to God.

I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12: 1-2 NASB

I have been thankful seeing the Lord work in our children's lives and seeing them work out their faith and it becoming their own. I pray that they continue to be open to the Holy Spirit as they deal with difficult issues each and every day.

--michele

Note: Today's thoughts were not meant to be a biblical answer about tatoos. It came to mind while doing the day's Bible reading and the discussion taking place in our family. What is amazing to me is seeing our children get into God's word and seeking answers for themselves and not just taking what I believe or what someone else is saying. . . they are going to The Source. The postings are a reflection of the things that have come to mind. The Bible is the final authority.