Hey, Carpool Crew. I'm so glad you're here. Thanks for hopping in for a bonus episode today, and this one's a little different. I like to do episodes like this usually once a year, because we're not talking about feelings or friendship or a big Bible story. We're talking about hygiene. Okay, this is a great topic every year just to hit on, because guess what? We're all getting older. And hygiene is brushing your teeth, taking a shower, taking a bath, putting on deodorant if you're a little older, washing your hands after the bathroom, all of it. Now, you might think, 'Well, why are we talking about that?' Well, that's the one thing I want you to remember. We're talking about this because the body God gave you is worth taking care of. Check out this verse from 1 Corinthians 6:19. It says, 'Don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have from God?' Wow. Whoa. Just stop and think about that for a second. A temple? See, in the Bible, a temple was the most important building anywhere. It was where God's presence lived. People treated the temple with serious respect. They cleaned it often. They cared for it. They protected it. They didn't let it fall apart. Paul was writing to a group of Christians in a city called Corinth. These people were getting really careless. They were treating their bodies like they didn't matter, like the body was just a shell and only the soul counted. And Paul basically says, 'Hold on a second. Your body is where the Holy Spirit lives. The same God who split open the Red Sea gave us the Holy Spirit to live with us, to guide us, to help us. Your body is a big deal.' God cares about all of you. Not all of you listening out there. Yeah, He does care about all of you listening. He cares about all of you, all the parts of your body, not just your heart, not just your mind. He doesn't just care what you do for Him. He doesn't just care that you pray to Him. He doesn't just care that you sing really loud, although He does love loud singing. God cares about the body He gave you, the teeth, the hair, the hands, the skin, the whole thing. If Jesus were sitting with you right now, I think He'd say, 'I made you exactly the way I wanted you, every part, so take care of it. Not because you have to look perfect, but because what I gave you is worth respecting and caring for.' So real talk for a second. Some of you are listening to this, and when your parents say, 'Go take a shower,' you fake it, right? You get in, you turn the water on, you stand there for about two minutes, you get wet, and you walk out, and you call it done. Some of you skip brushing your teeth. Maybe not all your teeth, but the ones in the back, right? I mean, no one even sees those. Who cares? And you just put some toothpaste on your tongue and swish it around. Some of you wear the same socks three days in a row, and you act surprised when your feet smell. Now listen, I see you, friends. I see you because I was you, number one, and I had a great mom, just like you have great parents. And two, I have four kids, and they use a lot of the same tricks on me, by the way. I've figured out most of them, but I'm still working on it. Some of them still get me. But the thing is, I want them to have great hygiene, not just because I'm their dad and my parents made me do it, but because the God I follow gave us our bodies, and we're to treat them really well. So what does this mean for you this week? Well, first, take hygiene seriously. Take what your parents are saying seriously. When they ask you to do something, when they give you some advice or some tips, or when they want to go over your teeth or check and make sure you put deodorant on, let them, because they love you. They want the best for you. Second, here's a quick teeth-brushing tip. Go for two minutes. Some people may say more. I want you to listen to your parents, and some people may say less. I want you to listen to your parents. But if you don't have an established time, go for two minutes. Two minutes twice a day, morning and night, and you're good to go. Make sure you get all your teeth, and trust me, you'll be happy that you did. And third, this is a simple one. Make sure the clothes you wear are clean every day. Now, here's the thing. You have great parents. They're awesome. You have clean clothes, but I know you have that favorite shirt, that favorite pair of shorts you like. They're so comfy. You like to lounge in them. You like to relax in them, and honestly, you'd wear them every day if you could. But don't. Don't do it. Even if you want to, don't do it. And guess what? Pastor Justin, I have a favorite shirt. I have one specific Hawaiian shirt that has volcanoes on it. It is so cool. I'd wear it every day, but I can't, because Mrs. Pastor Justin will not let me, and she's right. And it would be a bad example for my kids. They would see it, and they'd say, 'Well, why can't we do it? Dad's doing it.' Well, yeah. That means I have to do the things that I'm asking them to do, not because I have to, because yeah, I am the parent, but because I want to. I want to take care of the body God gave me, in the same way I want you to take care of the body God gave you. That's it. It's not complicated, but it's real. And if you haven't thought about it or haven't talked about it, I hope this becomes the conversation starter for you. Now listen, just don't forget that one big thing. The body God gave you is worth taking care of. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. Now, before you go, let's answer this question together. What is one thing about your hygiene routine that you could do a little better this week? And how can your parents help you do it? I'll see you tomorrow on Carpooling with Jesus.
