No Loopholes For Sexual Purity

Wednesday, February 19



Matthew 19:7-8 (NKJV)
“They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.”
Devotion

Jesus, the Messiah, came to restore all things. On this occasion, he answered a question about societal views toward marriage by referring back to God’s original instruction. In marriage, the husband and wife come together and become one flesh – this physical union also unites their hearts by God’s design. (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5) 

God’s instruction is, “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Matthew 19:6) This is a universal command and is repeated by the writer of Hebrews, “Let the marriage bed be honored by all,” referring to exclusive enjoyment of sexual intimacy between husband and wife. (Hebrews 13:4) 

Jesus continued, “I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” (Matthew 19:9) Due to hardness of heart, some seek to minimize this criterion, while others expand it beyond what is written. In Sunday’s message, the pastor Chris Hodges encouraged us to check the condition of our hearts. 

Satan questions God’s motives and lies about His instructions. Today, the same heart attitude asks, is this or that activity really sex? Regardless of the details and whether the actions involve an in-person, printed, recorded, or remote object of arousal, all sex is sex. Sex outside of marriage breaks the covenant, and the spouse who was sinned against is free to leave the covenant. 

Followers of Jesus must flee from sexual immorality. Sex outside of marriage is not only a sin against the spouse, if a person is married, it is a sin against God and a sin against one’s own body. (1 Corinthians 6:18) If you have sinned, if your heart has been hardened or confused on this issue, cry out to Jesus. Repent specifically, calling your sin what God calls it, and pray that the blood of Jesus will cleanse you of that sin and that your heart and mind will be renewed. 


Today’s Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,
I come before You with a humble heart, acknowledging that Your ways are perfect and just. Thank You for the gift of marriage and the sacredness of sexual purity. Forgive me for any compromise in my thoughts, actions, or beliefs. Cleanse me with the blood of Jesus and renew my mind to align with Your truth. Strengthen me to flee from temptation and to honor You in my body, my relationships, and my commitments. May my life be a reflection of Your holiness. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Apply It Today

Married: Commit to honoring your marriage by maintaining faithfulness in both thought and action. Guard your relationship by fostering open communication, prioritizing intimacy with your spouse, and setting boundaries to protect your covenant from temptation.

Single: Make a firm decision to pursue sexual purity by setting clear boundaries in your relationships and media consumption. Stay accountable to a trusted mentor or community, and focus on growing in your relationship with God as you prepare for a future that honors Him. 

Resources

  • Watch this message, “Purity”, and discover why purity before God is so important. 
  • As we countdown to the end of our Better Together series, don’t forget to check out our special events all month long - Better Together Events