City Life Starter

The Word: 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

——————-

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)

Reflection Questions:

If you are a believer, what habits have you developed that honor God since you gave your life to the Lord?

If you are a believer, what habits from your former life have transferred over to your new life in Christ? Do those habits honor God?

If you are not yet a believer, are you willing to surrender your life to God?

By Aisha Darwesh

Today’s verses differentiate sexual immorality from other types of sin. It says that all other sins are outside the body, but those who commit sexual sin are sinning against their own bodies. There is a certain sacredness of a man and woman joining together as one that should solely be reserved within the confines of a committed marriage relationship. Sex involves the spirit, soul, and body. The Bible doesn’t tell us to resist sexual immorality, it tells us to flee from sexual immorality.

God invented sex, so He is certainly not trying to withhold anything from His children, but wants to protect us from the detrimental effects of sex outside of marriage. Oftentimes, sexual immorality is rooted in rejection, insecurity, and/or a desperate longing to be desired, accepted and loved. As believers in Christ, the Bible says God made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:6-7).

Further, today’s verses go on to state that our bodies are not our own; our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. What a concept! Housing the very Presence of God brings His divine nature into everything we do. Think of it. If you are going to the grocery store, you’re carrying God’s Presence with you in there. If you walk into a coffee shop, you’re taking God with you. God forbid, but if you join yourself to a prostitute and engage in sexual immorality, you are essentially desecrating God’s holy temple.

Having this kind of knowledge and applying it will transform your life. Because God is holy, and if you by the power of the Holy Spirit have accepted Christ into your heart, you can now live in holiness too.

God wants us to be whole, healthy, satisfied, and pure. The only way for a believer to be truly happy is to live in holiness, and in the purity of mind and heart.

Application

Are you engaging in sexual immorality? In your thoughts, words, or body? Make a change today. Understand that if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He has redeemed you through His blood, forgiven your sin, and empowered you to be the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

If you are single [here, single is defined as “not married”], then the Bible tells us not to “awaken love until the time is right” (Song of Solomon 8:4). The right time for sex is when you are in a committed marriage relationship. That means until we are married, we should be diligent to control our flesh and keep that part of ourselves “asleep” until the time is right. This does not mean you cannot have a fulfilled and satisfying life as a single. In fact, the Bible says we can actually do more for God being single because we are not preoccupied with pleasing a spouse (See 1 Corinthians 7:32-35). However, it is better to marry than to burn with lust. (1 Corinthians  7:9).

If you are married, enjoy your spouse, and only your spouse (Proverbs 5). Don’t be enticed by anyone else. Although I can’t speak from experience on this, the Bible does indicate part of the joy of marriage is the exclusivity of marriage. What an honor it must be to have an intimate relationship with that one special person. Why would you want to do anything to jeopardize that trusted relationship?

If you find the trappings of sexual immorality far too alluring, my encouragement for you today is to change the way you think. The Bible makes it very clear that allowing our sinful nature to control our thinking leads to death, but allowing the Spirit to govern our thinking leads to life and peace (Romans 8:6).

Life or death. Which will it be? I find it almost ridiculous that we sometimes give more weight to the enemy and his ability to tempt us than we give to God’s Spirit and His ability to empower and transform us. In the same way that you can yield to impure thoughts and fantasies, you can yield to God’s ways just as easily. But you’ve got to make up your mind. God will never get inside your head and take over. You’ve got to yield to Him. Renew your mind by reading the Word, speaking the Word, and meditating on the Word. Before you know it, the purity and beauty of His Word will transform you and cut away those sinful desires. Instead of looking at a woman lustfully, you’ll see her as God see her–a beautiful and treasured soul whom He died for!

Prayers

Heavenly Father, I thank You for making a way for me to be right with You and live in holiness. I thank You by Your Grace, I am holy just as You are holy. Lord, please help me to walk it out today. In Jesus Name, Amen.