Marsha's Musings: Going to Visit Friends/Sanctification

Yesterday I had a dentist appointment (yes, this time a cleaning) and he found more to fix in my mouth.  Sigh.  So not looking forward to this!

I didn't accomplish quite as much yesterday as the day before, but I did get the budgeting done and a lot of reading that I needed to do.

It's a quiet morning.  Everyone is sleeping in.  All I hear is the ticking of the clock the running of the water in the fountain on the patio and an occasional donkey bellowing in the field across the way.

I need to get busy here and bake brownies.  We are going to visit some friends to help surprise their daughter for an early birthday celebration.  Should be fun.

My Quiet Time:

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 ESV)

I was struck by the fact that Paul links sanctification with controlling your sexual passions.  I do not know the specific numbers & can't easily looks it up because of our internet filter, but I've read that there is a great percentage of Christian men who are involved in the use of pornography.  I understand women can get caught up in it too.

At least 50% of Christian marriages end up in divorce, I read somewhere.  It makes me wonder how many of those divorces are the result of adultery?  

This passage seems to speak directly to these issues and more. Apparently, sexual impurity was a big problem in the Testament era just as it is today.  Amazing how nothing really changes much in the way of human nature. Oh, the methods may change, but the human heart is still desparately wicked.

Many struggle to "find God's will for their lives" as if it has to do with their life's vocation or where they should live etc.  God's will is spelled out right here.  God's will is your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality!  I would submit to you that if we obeyed all the other commands in Scripture relating to how we are to treat each other that this area of sexual impurity would take care of itself. 

How are you doing with your sanctification in this area?  Don't let the Devil get a foothold!  If he already has, go to God in repentance, do what you can to fix the damage if possible and start obeying the personal relationship commands in Scripture now.  What a difference it will make in your life!