Day 48: Sustained by Grace
THE WILL OF GOD
There has been a lot of confusing surrounding the will of God. Countless times I’ve heard people say, “I just want to know God’s will for my life.” We even turn to prayer in our attempt to understand: “God reveal your will to me, show me your will!" There is nothing wrong with seeking out God's desire in our lives through asking and prayer as long as we are also turning to the Bible. While we grasp for understanding, the pages of scripture give us a clear, black and white picture of God’s desire, plan, and will for our lives. One aspect of God's perfect and holy will is given to us point-blank in 1 Thessalonians.
It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; -1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
Before reading this verse, how would you have finished a sentence that started with “It is God’s will that I should…” People will likely come up with some crazy ways, and also profound ways to finish that sentence. Of all the things God’s will focuses on, Paul chose to specifically write “that you should avoid sexual immorality.” This makes it clear that God cares deeply for our sexuality. Consider also Ephesians 5 to gain a better understanding of how seriously God takes the topic of sexual immorality:
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. -Ephesians 5:1-3
Surely, there are other things more significant in God’s grand plan than our sexual purity...right? Perhaps, but at the very least scripture is telling us that sexual sin is a big deal.
Have we not felt the weight of being destroyed by sexual sin? We've seen it consume every thought until satisfied. We've seen it take more and demand more than we ever agreed to. Those of us waging war against sin know firsthand that giving in only leads to one place That place is the deepest, darkest gloom that only God can rescue us from. Fortunately it is God’s will that we be free from sexual immorality. Memorize 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5. Post it on your wall. Write it in your phone. Set it as your background. God wants you to be free from this, and he will rescue you from the deepest pits of sorrow and darkness. Are you feeling tempted to go back to your old lifestyle? It is critical that you press forward friend, and that you do not believe the lies of the enemy. God has a desire for your freedom, and He won’t rest until His child is free.
RENEWING OUR MINDS
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. -Romans 12:2
The renewal of our minds means surrounding ourselves with the word of God. It means finding peace in the leading of His Holy Spirit and not giving into the flesh, no matter how strong the pull. Our flesh will wage war against us, but when we renew our minds with the word of God, we can easily counter-attack with the Sword of the Spirit. We encourage you to memorize some of the verses from this course, specifically those that deal with our mindset towards sexual purity. Without the Word, we are relying on our own feelings and desires. As we well know, this will always lead us down the path of sin.
As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; -Romans 3:10
We are not capable of righteousness on our own. Human nature will always drive us away from God, not towards Him. We have been unable to live the lives God desires for us since the Fall of mankind. Our sinful nature haunts us constantly, pushing us to act on the sinful desires that so easily entangle us. But we are no longer slaves to this torment. We are alive in Christ and dead to sin. It is God’s will that you find freedom in this area through His son Jesus. Stay strong and fight the good fight.
Day 48 Application
According to God’s will, what do we avoid (see verse 1 Thessalonians 4:3 above)?
Why do you think that God cares so much about our sexual purity? Have you been so far into sexual sin that you felt destroyed and isolated from God?
How have you spent meaningful time with God? How can you stay engaged in your time with him? What distracts you from doing this well?
Have you felt you've had adequate accountability? How are you learning to handle temptations? Does being tempted effect your sexual purity? Why or why not?