Memorise: Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will. Hebrews 13:4
Read: Matthew 5:27-32 (KJV)
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
Bible in one year:
1st Corinthians 15-16,
Isaiah 66:7-24,
Hymn:
Sing hymn 6
Message:
“In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”
Judges 21:25
This scripture aptly describes the state of the world today, especially in the area of sexual immorality. Many people these days have no sense of restraint, having eliminated God’s authority over their lives. They are no longer answerable to God, and the boundaries He has defined for the total wellbeing of mankind are being dismantled in order to accommodate their desires. As a result, every sexual absurdity that enters into depraved minds is turned into a cause for social justice by the devil and his agents, and several simple-minded people are getting swept into supporting such so-called “civil right” causes that are essentially a repudiation of the ways of God. Not satisfied with manipulating the world, the devil has set his sights on the Church, which has been his target all along. It is therefore disheartening to see ignorant Christians lowering the standard of God’s word in order to accommodate the world. Such Christians believe that in order to reach out to the world, the word of God needs to be “toned down” to accommodate modern day realities. They forget that the Holy Spirit says in 2nd Timothy 2:19:
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
God’s standards are very high, they are firm and they are sealed. This means that you cannot unravel them to add or subtract things in order to accommodate your own desires.
In today’s Bible reading, the Lord Jesus Christ declares God’s standard on immorality to every ear that is willing to hear. This is standard He sets is that adultery is not committed just in the act but also in the lust that arises before the act. The devil knows this and that is why he manipulates men and women to wear clothes that accentuate or reveal their nakedness, even in church. His plan is to ensnare innocent souls into committing adultery and fornication through lust.
Another standard the Lord established in today’s Bible text concerning divorce and remarriage. Several so-called “Bible-believing” churches have jettisoned God’s standard and have embraced the necessity of divorce and remarriage as a reality of modern life. Such people are only deceiving themselves and will answer for it on Judgement Day. Are you living by God’s standards in the area of sexual purity?
Action Point
Endeavour to avoid any act that would foster sexual immorality in the Church of Jesus Christ.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical Churches in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
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