Read 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Someone I know visited a couple soon after their wedding.

“So, how are the newlyweds?” they asked excitedly.

“Well, honestly, not much different.”

This couple had been living together for quite some time before their wedding.

For the last several decades, our culture has been loosening more and more it’s grip on sexuality. Where it once was this precious act to be cared for, sex is now something that two consenting people can take part in and it’s not thought about twice.

I mean, why should you care about the old school tradition of saving yourself sexually until you’re married?

Because, as Paul describes in our reading today, it is one of the things that defines a believer.

Where it has become commonplace to toss sexual purity aside, Paul, in our reading, urges believers to use their bodies for honor and that it is the will of God for believers to be sexually pure.

How do you apply our reading today?

It’s very clear.

Fight for purity.

It defines your faith.

“So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.”

It’s sad to see that sexuality has become what it is today, especially in the church. Taking a stand for purity isn’t going to make you popular, but it is something that God values tremendously. Rejecting God’s teaching on sexuality is rejecting Him directly.

What are some ways that you can and should fight for purity in your life? Are there any areas that you are compromising your faith in this way? Is there some patchwork that needs to be done?

It’s a tough job, for sure.

I was recently asked to officiate a wedding for someone very close to me. While, initially, I was thrilled and honored to be asked, I quickly realized that a personal conversation was going to need to take place as they were living together and didn’t see anything wrong with it…but they knew better.

They just didn’t care enough to change.

I sought advice on the best way to have this conversation and ended up telling them that, while I was honored to be asked, before God I cannot officiate a wedding if this issue wasn’t addressed. They seemed to understand but ended up moving in a different direction.

While I worried about the toll this would take on our relationship, at the end of the day, it was the right move because sexual purity isn’t just an annoying and old school law, it is something that defines a believer and shows our commitment to God Himself.

Fight for purity.

Jake Lawson