In my message on Sunday, I spoke about various marks of the Christian life. These were taken from the thirteenth chapter of Hebrews, verses 1-6, and as I paraphrased it, included brotherly love, hospitality, sympathy for those in trouble, sexual purity, and contentment.
As I thought about those, the first three concern how we are to act toward our fellow believers, our brothers and sisters in the Lord. The last two concern more about who we are on the inside, sort of how we relate to ourselves.
After the message, a couple of people made comments, especially on the last two, essentially saying that they know people who don’t live that way, but it’s okay, they’ve been through a lot, or they deserve a break, or most often, everybody else does it. Remember that last one, if you’re a parent, you’ve probably heard it a lot. But did it convince you when your children said it? It didn’t, did it!
Sexual purity seems to be one of those really important things to God. Scripture speaks of it so much, it must be very important. And often, as is the case here in Hebrews 13:4, sexual immorality will be judged.
Still, we sometimes try to justify it. Every one else does seem to be doing it. It can’t be that bad. That serpent that spoke to Eve in the garden is still speaking today. He says things like, “that’s not what God meant”, and “Surely, you won’t be judged, after all, everyone else is doing it.”
And if you look to the world, you might even believe him. The question is, are you looking to the world, or are you looking to God? God’s Word is clear, but the fallen world has not heard that Word, or not believed that Word. It’s often easy to justify things we want to do based on what the world does, but that’s often not what God desires for us.
As I thought about those, the first three concern how we are to act toward our fellow believers, our brothers and sisters in the Lord. The last two concern more about who we are on the inside, sort of how we relate to ourselves.
After the message, a couple of people made comments, especially on the last two, essentially saying that they know people who don’t live that way, but it’s okay, they’ve been through a lot, or they deserve a break, or most often, everybody else does it. Remember that last one, if you’re a parent, you’ve probably heard it a lot. But did it convince you when your children said it? It didn’t, did it!
Sexual purity seems to be one of those really important things to God. Scripture speaks of it so much, it must be very important. And often, as is the case here in Hebrews 13:4, sexual immorality will be judged.
Still, we sometimes try to justify it. Every one else does seem to be doing it. It can’t be that bad. That serpent that spoke to Eve in the garden is still speaking today. He says things like, “that’s not what God meant”, and “Surely, you won’t be judged, after all, everyone else is doing it.”
And if you look to the world, you might even believe him. The question is, are you looking to the world, or are you looking to God? God’s Word is clear, but the fallen world has not heard that Word, or not believed that Word. It’s often easy to justify things we want to do based on what the world does, but that’s often not what God desires for us.
Are you looking to the world for approval, or are you looking to God? There is a big difference…
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