Daily Devotional for Sunday April 7, 2019

Christians rail against the sin of homosexuality, and rightly so, but how many are fornicating?

(Ephesians 5:3)

***DAILY PERSONAL PRAYER FOR YOU: Lord, Thank You for meeting my daily needs as You have promised in Your Word. I look to You and You alone for my sustenance through life, and Thank You for your faithfulness. Please help me to be a good steward of the funds You entrust into my care during this life, and give me favor in my finances, and wisdom in my decisions. In the name of Jesus I pray...AMEN!

Fornication is an Old Testament word that means sex outside the bounds of marriage. If you are having sex, and it is with someone other than the person you are married to, it is fornication. It is clearly defined as sin in the Bible. And yes, this means oral sex too!!! To see how God feels about this issue, you should get a Bible concordance, look up the word "fornication," and read the various scriptures in God's Word that address this issue.

Also, let me say this in advance of the questions I know many are already getting ready to ask. Jesus said if you lust in your heart, you have committed the act of adultery. That may seem like a very high example to live up to. But that is what God expects of us. If you remember, in past Devotionals I have talked about sin, and how it starts in the heart, then moves to the head, and is ultimately consummated in the act itself. Jesus was talking about killing sin where it is born, in the heart.

I get emails daily from people, young and old, asking how "far" they can go with a boyfriend or girlfriend. I often remind them how the Bible says we are to run from temptation. Listen, if you are trying to find "the line", you have already crossed it! You are only playing mind-games with yourself. It is like the moth that flies near the light. Ultimately, the moth gets too close and is killed. You have to stop sin at its root, in the heart. Once you let it go from your heart to your head, it is already too late. Once you let it leave your head and actually start to act out the sin, you are done.

Let me explain why fornication is wrong in very real, practical terms. First, it is a perversion of God's plan for sex between a man and woman. God's plan was for one man, one woman, one lifetime. Sex is part of that relationship between a man and woman. When you have sex outside of that special union, you are opening up very special, intimate emotions that just don't work outside of marriage. It is a very special part of the marriage experience, and by perverting that plan, you cheapen it, and compromise it, and it is never as special as God intended it to be.

Of course, in addition to that side of the fornication issue, is the reality of sexually transmitted disease. That is a very real byproduct or consequence of this sinful activity. Then you always have the possibility of the woman getting pregnant. Again, this opens the door to a plethora of consequences from abortion, to having a child out of wedlock, to two people, who God never intended to be married, getting married for all the wrong reasons which almost always ends badly for both people, to any number of other consequences that can dramatically change your life.

THERE ARE ALWAYS...ALWAYS...ALWAYS... CONSEQUENCES FOR SINFUL ACTIVITY!!!

At some level, you will have to deal with the consequences if you choose to be involved in fornication!!!

This issue perfectly illustrates the choices we have. If we choose to do it our way, give in to our physical urges and engage in this sinful activity, not only do we pay a very high price for choosing to rebel against God's plan, but the fact is, what we get for that choice is very little. I can personally attest that it is not in any way, shape or form worth the price you have to pay. However, if we obey God and do it His way, this can be one of life's great blessings.

Sex is NOT bad. God created it. Enjoyed in the context God created it to be experienced, it is wonderful. You see, my friend, God gave us each free will. We can choose to do it our way and deal with the consequences of our rebellion, or do it God's way and know the blessings of obeying Him. Often, the blessings we seek in this life are there for us, if we will simply be faithful and obedient. We hold the key to many of our blessings by simply being obedient and doing it God's way, instead of rebelling and trying to do it our way.

I love you and care about you very much. I know this is a difficult issue for many of you, and many are in the midst of struggling with it right now. God's timing is always perfect, and it is NO ACCIDENT you are reading these words today. God is clearly speaking to you. Again, it is your choice. I can assure you that as long as you live in disobedience, in rebellion, continue to sin in this area, you will continue to struggle, have to deal with the various consequences of this sinful activity, and it will keep you from the close, intimate, daily relationship with Christ He wants to have with you.

For those in this battle with fornication today, this is for you: "You are in a battle. To win a battle, you must have a battle plan. Pray, sit down and let God give you a plan you can faithfully work at each day. Then, you need someone you can be accountable to on a daily basis. You can't win this fight alone. You need someone to stand with you and to hold you accountable. Lastly, you need the strength you can only get from God. That comes from your daily relationship through prayer and the Word, from being in church, from finding ways to serve the Lord. All of this working together will help you overcome this battle and see victory. I will stand with you, and be praying. He is able!!!"

I will be praying for you today. I know for many this is a major bondage in your life. With the strength God can provide, and making it a priority, you can overcome it and see victory. From my own life I can tell you this. If you listen to God and do it His way, it not only works, but it is incredible. Why settle for the scraps this world offers, when we can enjoy the feast our God has prepared for us. I will be praying.

In His love and service,

Your friend, brother, and co-laborer in Christ,

Bill Keller