Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you knows 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 transgresses and wrongs 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.

Reflect:

As we headed into the Independence Day weekend, I read a headline that a Massachusetts city voted to “recognize polyamorous relationships.” It is only one city, but we should not be surprised when others follow this example. Given the direction of our culture, who would not expect relationships to be defined as anything other than the Biblical standard established in Genesis and reinforced by Jesus in the New Testament (Matthew 19)? The influence of our culture in the area of sexual immorality has numbed all of us to varying degrees, don’t you agree?

As Paul wrote to the Thessalonians in the passage above, we must avoid the “passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God”. But how?

Respond:

• First, consider what sources impact you most in the area of sexuality and sensuality outside of God’s plan.
• Second, consider a media fast of the most prominent sources of influence in your life. Does this meaning changing the channels on your TV or limiting your access to the internet? Something else?
• Third, replace the negative influence with time with God. Listen to inspiring music or spend time studying and reflecting on God’s word. Start with reading through Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8.

Finally, consider the words of Thomas Chalmers, “It is not enough to understand the worthlessness of the world; one must value the worth of the things of God.”