1Corinthians 10:13(NLT)
“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”
1Corinthians 6:12-13 (NLT) says, “12 You say, “I am allowed to do anything”–but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything. 13 You say, “Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food.” (This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them.) But you can’t say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies.”
God has given us free-will choice, and how we use this free-will choice determines who we follow and what we serve. No matter how old we are, all human beings are children. We don’t have the capacity to create anything. All we can ever do is use what God has created to produce other things. Jesus Christ tells us in Luke 16:13 that no one can service two masters, and you and I are here on this earth to decide which master we will serve. It’s really very simple. If we honor God’s Word and do what it says, we are His children. If we don’t, we’re not.
The Apostle Paul makes it clear in 1 Corinthians 6:12 that God has given us the gift of free-will, and God will never withdraw or violate what He’s given. Paul warns that we must not be a slave to anything. He’s telling us that our actions indicate the master we are serving, so we must be extremely careful about the actions we commit. We can choose to act in a way that backs up our faith the right way, or we can choose the wrong actions that cause us to live in reverse; that is never what God wants.
Our bodies belong to our Heavenly Father, and He purchased them back from darkness by giving His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for our sins. Our bodies were not made for sexual immorality. Today’s society mocks this truth from God’s Word. They approve and promote just the opposite. They laugh at someone who proclaims, “I’m doing it God’s way.” People that do not honor God’s Word don’t understand someone that has a strong stance on abstinence and celibacy; it’s puzzling to them because they are blinded by darkness. This should not be said about a child of the King.
Meeting someone you’re interested in, and who is interested in you as well, should not make sex a foregone conclusion. Nothing impacts our physical bodies and our blessings like having multiple sexual partners. God says in 1Corinthians 6:18(NLT), “Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.” Why do we allow men to make us betray ourselves by doing exactly the opposite of what God says? Our Heavenly Father doesn’t want this.
Is it easy to abstain from sex in a relationship? The truth is that there are times where it can be very challenging, but the thought of pleasing God and laying up treasures for the future we desire should give us plenty of incentive to keep our legs closed. There is no question that God has empowered us to endure temptation and come out on the winning side. In other words, God will keep us if we want to be kept. Through His Holy Spirit, we will be given directives of what to do and what not to do. God promises in 2Corinthians 10:13 that “When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” The Spirit will interfere and block sin if we invite him to have his way in our relationships. The bottom line is that we must want to do God’s Will, and when we do, abstaining from sin is a choice we’ll make every time, because the Spirit will help us.
The Apostle Paul told the Corinthian believers to avoid any involvement that would cause them to revert to their old sinful nature. Sexual sin will do just that. We can’t fool God, and we certainly can’t walk around thinking “a little bit of sin is okay.” If we ask Him, God will forgive us for our sin, but we will still face the consequences of the wrong we’ve committed. There are lots of saved folks in jail, and praise God for His grace. He will cover them, but the consequences of their crime must be paid.
Marriage is the only place that God has ordained for the fulfillment of our moral physical desires for intimacy. That’s why it’s so important to pray to God for Him to send you the person you are to marry. This way you can both bless each other the way God has ordained. Our Heavenly Father wants us to be fulfilled and happy in a nurturing and solid relationship. He wants this way more than we can ever want it for ourselves. If a wonderful marriage is what we’re believing God for, we must back up our faith with the right action, not actions that keep us bound to sin and its consequences. Don’t let satan steal your treasure by tricking you with the wrong man. Lay up treasures that can be stored in heaven, and keep your body temple holy, acceptable, and pleasing to God. This demonstrates our commitment to Christ, and it stakes a claim on the blessing we desire most. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“You Can Endure the Temptation”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2022. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.