October 8, 2022 – Daily Bread Devotional for Today | Saturday Daily Devotions Reading
October 8, 2022 – Daily Bread Devotional for Today
TOPIC: Sexual Immorality
SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8
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3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;
4 that each of you should learn to control your own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable,
5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God;
6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.[b] The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before.
7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
KEY VERSE: Avoid sexual immorality . . . to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable. — 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4
October 8, 2022 – Daily Bread Devotional MESSAGE
“Sexual immorality” includes every sexual sin. But a lot of sexual behavior is not sinful. Followers of Christ today are often challenged to discern which sexual behaviors are sinful and which are not.
The guidelines in our reading for today show us when a sexual behavior is good and when it has crossed a line. Good sexual behaviors are holy and honorable. Holy means “set apart for service to God.” Honorable refers to showing respect and honor to God and others, recognizing that they have exceptional value. Sexual activities are holy when they honor God, building up his kingdom. Sex within marriage can be holy. The joy of holding hands with someone you’re attracted to can be holy. These can also be honorable, as can many other activities that express our sexuality.
But sexual behavior that is driven by passionate lust or takes advantage of someone is not good. Passionate lust refers to being so caught up that we are not even concerned for our own good. And taking advantage means serving our self at another person’s expense.
Being holy and honorable in our sexual behavior will set us widely apart from the world, for the world invites us to pursue any sexual desire. This may be uncomfortable for us, and it may require a lot of grace if we mess up. But the reward is sexually holy, honorable living that is part of the full life God promises.
October 8, 2022 – Daily Bread Devotional PRAYER
Lord, help us not to harm ourselves or others with our sexuality but to give and receive the deep joy of holy, honorable intimacy. Amen.
Today Devotional written by Scott DeVries has served as a church pastor and as a ministry coordinator in the Holland, Michigan, area. He currently works at facilitating connections between the more than twenty ministries and 1,100 churches of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. He has a passion for prayer, church organization, and studying the Scriptures in their original languages.
