Remain Faithful
Hebrews 14:4 (ESV)
Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
Reflection
In Chapter 13 of Hebrews, the writer provides a list of sacrifices which are pleasing to God. In today’s verse the concept of sexual morality within the context of marriage is addressed. In present day culture many fall short of God’s standard for sexual purity. Modernism mimics the serpent’s persuasion that God’s standard for purity aims at limiting our pleasure. However, His law is full of grace aimed at protecting us.
The dialogue of sexual purity in church causes me anxiety. The associated shame and guilt surrounding my failures haunt me. This devotion was entrusted to me in a roundabout way of postponed sermon messages and needing a last-minute writer. I could spend more time applying and inspiring its biblical truth with allegory. But given the circumstances, it is obvious God simply wanted me to share our story. The story of my failure. The story He rewrote.
For twenty years I professed a Christian life while free-falling in pursuit of the world’s empty pleasures. All my frailties apart from God slowly became a reality I never wanted to be defined by. An egregious sin by anyone’s standard, known only to me, preventing consequences…
Fast forward four years and I miraculously found myself wrestling God, relinquishing self, and finally submitting to His design. Still, the deceit of my old self always in my shadow. Eventually God broke me. What I kept in the darkness, I brought to the light...
The search for God’s love and grace which I could never comprehend was put on full display by a wife who stared me in the eyes and said, “I love you, I forgive you”. The tangibleness of Jesus found in the person that I cherish most. Though painful, we experienced God’s promise of redemption and put the future of our marriage in His care.
So why am I sharing our story? Because God’s standard protects us. There are consequences when we don’t remain faithful to His commands. There is potential for others to learn from our story. When we empower shame and guilt, we neglect sharing of God’s redemptive work. Where he takes our shame and turns it to glory.
Action Steps
Prayer
Lord in Heaven Thank You for Your law that is rich in Grace. Help me remain faithful to your commands in pursuit of an honorable marriage. Help me recognize sacrifices to create boundaries in protecting and guarding its sanctity. When I fail, meet me with Your grace. Turn my brokenness for your redemptive work that I may share in Your Glory.
Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
Reflection
In Chapter 13 of Hebrews, the writer provides a list of sacrifices which are pleasing to God. In today’s verse the concept of sexual morality within the context of marriage is addressed. In present day culture many fall short of God’s standard for sexual purity. Modernism mimics the serpent’s persuasion that God’s standard for purity aims at limiting our pleasure. However, His law is full of grace aimed at protecting us.
The dialogue of sexual purity in church causes me anxiety. The associated shame and guilt surrounding my failures haunt me. This devotion was entrusted to me in a roundabout way of postponed sermon messages and needing a last-minute writer. I could spend more time applying and inspiring its biblical truth with allegory. But given the circumstances, it is obvious God simply wanted me to share our story. The story of my failure. The story He rewrote.
For twenty years I professed a Christian life while free-falling in pursuit of the world’s empty pleasures. All my frailties apart from God slowly became a reality I never wanted to be defined by. An egregious sin by anyone’s standard, known only to me, preventing consequences…
Fast forward four years and I miraculously found myself wrestling God, relinquishing self, and finally submitting to His design. Still, the deceit of my old self always in my shadow. Eventually God broke me. What I kept in the darkness, I brought to the light...
The search for God’s love and grace which I could never comprehend was put on full display by a wife who stared me in the eyes and said, “I love you, I forgive you”. The tangibleness of Jesus found in the person that I cherish most. Though painful, we experienced God’s promise of redemption and put the future of our marriage in His care.
So why am I sharing our story? Because God’s standard protects us. There are consequences when we don’t remain faithful to His commands. There is potential for others to learn from our story. When we empower shame and guilt, we neglect sharing of God’s redemptive work. Where he takes our shame and turns it to glory.
Action Steps
- Invite the Holy Spirit into your marriage.
- Create boundaries to protect your marriage or future spouse.
- Is there a tough conversation you need to have with your spouse? Pray, seek God, and take steps of obedience.
Prayer
Lord in Heaven Thank You for Your law that is rich in Grace. Help me remain faithful to your commands in pursuit of an honorable marriage. Help me recognize sacrifices to create boundaries in protecting and guarding its sanctity. When I fail, meet me with Your grace. Turn my brokenness for your redemptive work that I may share in Your Glory.
Posted in Tree Church Daily Devo
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