"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8If immorality is so desirable, one wonders why there's such increasing intensity as people degenerate along that path. They become enslaved to it, in bondage to it, just as one in bondage to drugs must have more and more. It never satisfies, but they keep relentlessly pursuing it. It haunts them and oppresses them (and those they use). The Enemy of all things good has caught them in his trap, and they don't even realize it. They find fulfillment nowhere.
"There is dullness, monotony, sheer boredom in all of life when virginity and purity are no longer protected and prized. By trying to grab fulfillment everywhere, we find it nowhere." ~ Elisabeth ElliotIn today's study, Nancy offers a checklist of safeguards for those of us pursuing moral freedom. I hope they're an encouragement to you.
- Recognize your potential for moral failure
- Realize that you don't have to give in.
- Resolve to be pure.
- Remove all bitterness.
- Restrain our fleshly desires.
- Reject anything that could lead you back into bondage.
- Run from every form of evil.
- Renew your mind with the Word of God.
- Recruit help.
- Remember the consequences.
- Refuse to remain in defeat and depression.
- Rely on the Holy Spirit.
~ from Seeking Him, Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Tim Grissom
