A CALL TO DIE BOOK - Day 26

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DAY <strong>26</strong>: SEX we need to do just that. Too often, we make excuses like, “Oh, that doesn’t affect me. I’m used to it.” Paul didn’t brush it off that easily. Corinth was a city that was much like yours and mine in its obsession with sex. Paul’s encouragement to the believers in that city was: “Flee from sexual immorality” (I Cor 6:18). That’s pretty clear. Paul’s reasoning was that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, so we should use our bodies (including our brains) only in ways that honor God. In that same passage of scripture, Paul reminds us that we “are not our own” we have been “bought at a price.” When we are tempted by lustful thoughts, we need to remember that we have been bought with a price. We can’t just do whatever our hormones suggest. We have a much higher calling, a much more important role in the scheme of things, and a Lord who deserves more from us. When we look at someone and are stimulated by that person’s appearance or touch, we need to remember: That is a person for whom Christ died. He wants the best for him (or her), and I do, too. Some people will say, “Well, as long as I don’t actually have sex with that person, it doesn’t matter what I think about.” Jesus doesn’t leave that door open to us. He says that adulterous thoughts are just as sinful as the act itself. How can that be true? It is true because sin is primarily of the heart, and lust is 5. Go to war against your sin. If you struggle with lust (and if you’re normal, you do), don’t make excuses. Do whatever it takes to focus your attention on Jesus and off sex. In this passage, Jesus says to pluck out your lustful eye and cut off your lustful hand. What does this mean for you and me? It means to take any porn sites off our browser. It means not going to a certain movie, even if all your friends are going. It means not participating in a conversation about sex. It means memorizing scripture and quoting verses when lustful thoughts fill our minds. It means finding someone to confide in and hold us accountable if we continue to struggle with lust. It means honoring Christ with our thoughts, words, and behavior. 151
DAY <strong>26</strong>: SEX If you have already gone far past step 1, this is the time to , turn to Jesus and be honest about your sin. Confession means that you agree with him that your sin is wrong, disobedient, and ; destructive. It means that you will make changes to ensure that it doesn’t happen again. You can be assured of God’s great forgiveness, and you can also be sure of his power as you tell that person you must make drastic changes in your relationship. Get some help. Find a Christian counselor or pastor to give you encouragement and wisdom so you can stay strong in the face of confusion and criticism. 6. Wait for God to provide. Many young men and women believe they need to experiment with as many people as possible in order to find “the right person.” Even Christians fall into this trap. Instead, we need to look to God to provide someone for us when and if that is his plan for us. We are his, and he wants the best for us. We need to find our completeness in him. That means he will lead us in one of the most important decisions we will make in our lives. Avoiding sexual lust is part of the answer. The other part is the pursuit of purity of heart and mind. The standard Jesus sets is very high in this area, just as it is in every other area of life: Fall in love with Jesus. Let him be the one who fills your heart and gives you joy. Then treat every person and every situation so that Jesus is pleased. When we deny our selfish ambitions, take up our crosses of obedience, and follow Jesus in the area of sexual purity, we be different really different from this culture. When we walk out of a movie or change a radio station, some will shake their heads, some will condemn, and some will laugh at us. But Jesus will smile. -Be still. Listen to what God is saying to you. 1. Think back over the last 24 hours. What sexually suggestive or explicit messages have you been exposed to (including songs, commercials, ads, movies, magazines, conversations, web sites, etc.)? 152
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A CALL TO DIE BOOK - Day 26

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