Scripture to Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:6
We continue to unfold God’s command about walking in purity in our sexual conduct. God warns us not to commit an offense against a brother or sister in Christ, or anyone else for that matter, in our sexual behavior. We are to treat each other with the highest respect and love. Plus, God warns us not to cheat a brother or sister in Christ through sexual misconduct. A couple of ways we can cheat a brother or a sister in Christ are pretty obvious: 1) Having any sexual relationship with someone who is not your spouse. 2) Having any sexual relationship as a single person, since a sexual relationship is set up by God for one man and one woman who are married to each other. Remaining pure in our sexual relationship is a serious matter between God and us. God considers it so serious that He has Paul write this in 1 Thessalonians 4:6 “the Lord is the avenger in all these things.” To know the Lord avenges all sexual sin ought to humble us and set in us a healthy respect for others and especially for God. God warns us throughout His Word about how we are to live our lives as holy, righteous, sanctified, and pure. Here are just a few verses to examine, so we know what exactly God expects from us as His children (Romans 13:13; 1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 6:9, 18; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-5; Colossians 3:5-7; Hebrews 13:4).
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you about not transgressing or defrauding someone else in sexual misconduct?
2. Who can you share this truth with this week, to help guard them from sexual misconduct?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!