ODJ: run for your life
November 12, 2011
Run from sexual sin! (v.18).
READ: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
I will probably never run a marathon. I know this because I ran a 5K race a few years ago, and I nearly passed out after the event. While the contestants ahead of me seemed to glide across the finish line, I approached it huffing and puffing, red-faced, and with burning lungs!
When Paul commands us to “run from sexual sin” (v.18), he’s calling us to exert effort, like I did in my little race. He wants us to dash away, because hanging around may give us time to rationalize what we know is wrong. We may start thinking:
• It’s not hurting anyone. Other people steal, cheat, or lie, so we may think that sleeping around is harmless in comparison. But, the Bible says, “No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body” (v.18). Don’t be fooled; immoral activity hurts you.
• It’s my body; I can do whatever I want with it. Many people will tell you with a shrug, “It’s your body, sleep around and have a good time.” But, God says, our bodies were “made for [Him], and [He] cares about our bodies” (v.13). Since God owns us—scalp to toenails and everything in between—we are not free to use our bodies as we please.
• It’s okay if you’re in love. The Bible plainly states that immorality is sin (Ephesians 5:3). Our emotions and hormones don’t have the power to change God’s standards for purity. It’s a good thing too, because many of us mistake “mutual love” for what is really just plain old lust.
If these thoughts sound familiar, compare them to the truth of God’s Word. Remember, “You must honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20), and race away from temptation. Run for your life! —Jennifer Benson Schuldt
Why do believers sometimes adopt the world’s standards instead of God’s moral standards? What happens to our relationship with God when we allow immorality to infect our lifestyle?
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