Friday, October 22, 2010
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ecclesiastes 7-9 & Galatians 3
THANKFUL SUBMISSION – Submission in Relationships
SCRIPTURE READING
Matthew 5:17-18 (NIV); “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Jesus took the commandment regarding sexual adultery and equated it to lust – adultery of the heart. God is serious about covenants, and marriage is such a bond. It is a covenant between one man and one woman which occurs before God and before others. In marriage, God miraculously fuses two to become one and a new primary relationship is formed, which deems all other relationships as secondary. Marriage is the only allowable context for sex and THIS is one thing society hates about Christianity. Sadly the church has fallen short of her calling and glossed over the magnitude of this sin. The world does not like being told what to do and, in hating morality has rejected God. And yet the moral law still stands. Because God is moral, His creation is moral and we all are subject to His law whether we like it or not and judgment day will be the final proof. In rejecting God, something else has to take precedence, and power and sexual “freedom” rule our society.
When Jesus equated lust with adultery, He also terminated middle ground. Sex is for marriage alone – from first glance to the bedroom and INCLUDING all things in between. The church has evaded this truth and our youth are suffering the consequences.
PRAYER & MEDITATION
1. Taking into consideration the verses above, ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of sexual sin– from lustful looks to marital adultery.
2. Jesus told us that the pure in heart will see God. Our actions stem from what is in our hearts, so clearly many people are not seeing God like they could. Meditate on this truth (see Matthew 5:8) and ask God what it will take to open your eyes to Him more.
3. If you’re not married, take time to ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you about sexual purity and His standards for you. If you are married, seek the Holy Spirit as to how you can ensure that your marriage bed is kept pure (see Hebrews 13:4).
