DEVOTION - Day 26

1 Thessalonians 4:7 (New International Version)
7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

Let’s face it, sexual temptations are all around us. It is quite difficult to avoid being tempted by something we see or something we hear or read. No matter which way we turn, sex and sexual innuendo are thrown at us at an alarming rate.

I mean, I’m not telling you anything that you don’t already know. And, we all struggle with it to varying degrees. Some of us don’t struggle at all while others struggle to a large degree. This is one of the areas of life that far too many people find themselves in a mess that they don’t know how to get out of. And, unfortunately, many people succumb to the pressure and give in to doing things that ultimately destroy their lives along with any relationships they have.

I want to urge you that the message in today’s verse is that complete purity should be the goal. This includes both purity of body, mind, and spirit. Additionally, the instruction we receive here is to not just stop at purity in the sexual sense, but to live a life that is holy. This means that all areas of your life should be in line with a pure life – sexually, relationally, etc.

Are you sexually pure? Is there any area of your life that is not pure? Do you value your purity and vow to keep it that way until you are married? What things do you need to change in your life to be in line with this verse? Do you have an accountability partner that holds you accountable to a higher purity standard?

For me, this used to be a tough area for me. I have had to take a strong stance in my life to remove anything that might be a temptation to me. This includes the TV shows I watch or the movies I rent. It also includes the things I look at and the things I read (both online and in print). Consuela and I have come to learn that “the small stuff matters.” In other words, everything that goes into your mind/heart plants a seed, no matter how small it may seem at the time. Everything matters.

So, pray today that God will reveal any area of your life that is impure. Ask Him for the strength to fight back against temptation and not give into it. Finally, pray that He will help you take the necessary steps and realize the goal of living a holy life.