Your Identity in Christ
• In Christ, I am a dearly loved child of God. As such I will walk in the way of love, including a sexual lifestyle that honors God.
Ephesians 5:1-3
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
~ Apostle Paul
Big choices here: When it comes to your sexuality, are you going to be of the world or of God? In the USA, we live in a highly sexualized and sensualized society.
While the Apostle Paul warns Christians in Ephesus to avoid even a hint of sexual immorality, we find ourselves immersed in a culture that idolizes its sexuality. God’s version of sexuality in the bible seems to be the only one not accepted nowadays.
But you are not to be of this world any more than Jesus was of this world. Yes, you are a sexual being. But don’t let your sexuality master you. You can’t have two masters.
And, as Proverbs 5-7 cautions over and over, forbidden sex will definitely seek to be your master. Set your heart on being a godly sexual being -- and then guard that heart!
Prayer
Father God, much of the “sexual being” aspect of who I am and the battles that come with that occur in my heart. Help me set my heart on being godly with my sexuality. Show me how to place your word on this matter in my heart and guard it. As you’ve said, from my heart flows the springs of life (Proverbs 4:23 ESV). Amen.
Micro-Meditation Scripture
Psalm 119:153-160 (Resh, 20th letter)
- Look on my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law.
- Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise.
- Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek out your decrees.
- Your compassion, LORD, is great; preserve my life according to your laws.
- Many are the foes who persecute me, but I have not turned from your statutes.
- I look on the faithless with loathing, for they do not obey your word.
- See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, LORD, in accordance with your love.
- All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.
Micro-Meditation
Teaching or Command of God
Colossians 2:6-7
Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
1 John 4:4
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome [evil spirits], because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Micro-Meditation
Pondering Point
The wicked do not seek out your decrees; they don’t bother with God’s Word. The godly seek out His Word (Psalm 119:2-3 provided in two previous devotions: April 20 and April 21). Continue to be rooted and built up in him.