Girlfriends in God - Aug. 2, 2010
August 2, 2010
Don't Do It
Sharon Jaynes
Today's Truth
"Flee from sexual immorality…Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God. You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body" (1 Corinthians 6:18, 19-20 NIV).
Friend To Friend
Can I talk girlfriend to girlfriend for just a moment? It's about a very uncomfortable subject, and honestly, one most of us would rather pretend does not exist in "Christian circles." It's sexual sin.
In my last devotion, we stood road-side and looked at the story of the woman caught in adultery, and of Jesus who set her free. Even though she wasn't behind prison bars, she was in bondage to a sinful lifestyle. Sexual sin is highly addictive and the search for love in all the wrong places, insatiable. It is a drink that never satisfies the soul and leaves the partaker only thirsty for more.
A woman is enticed by a syrupy word from a co-worker, an e-mail from an old boyfriend, an invitation on Facebook, or an alluring smile at a neighborhood gathering. Loneliness fills the room and passion comes knocking at the door. But when the smoke clears, loneliness returns with new hunger pangs laced with regret.
Sex outside of marriage can lead to many things: unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, divorce, mistrust, regret, shame, loss of family and a whole list of undesirable dominos that tumble in succession. But in Jesus' day, a woman caught in the act of adultery faced possible execution. In some parts of the world, that law is still enforced today. So why would the woman that we meet in John Chapter 8 who was caught in the act of adultery take the risk? Was it worth it? No. The answer is always no.
There is no greater longing in the heart of a woman than to be loved, cherished, and cared for. It can cause the strongest to break a resolve and succumb to the tempter's lure. Adultery has been the cause for church leaders to crumble, ministries to melt down, and families to falter. Sexual sin has caused the most sensible to act like a fool, the most moral to march into madness, the most devout to be devoured by desire. The desire to love and to be loved can sometimes scream over the din of reason.
The yearning for love gnaws at the heart. And then the brush of a hand, the glimpse of the eyes, or the stirring of a comment blows on a spark and sets it ablaze. Loneliness echoes in a hollow soul, just as passion come scratching at the door. Never doubt this, my friend: Satan is an opportunist who takes advantage of the lonely heart (Luke 4:13).
To be loved is one of the strongest desires of the human heart. God planned it that way because He longs for us to have that longing filled by a relationship with Him; but so many settle for a sip from the rusty tin cup when God offers an everlasting stream.
A woman can risk it all for a few moments of passion. She can lie to herself that a sexual relationship or liaison is love. Then after the brief pleasure lies exposed by the morning sun, she realizes what felt like love was tainted with the poison of shame. It can happen. It does happen. It did happen to the woman standing before Jesus with an angry mob of rock-holding Pharisees gathered around. It has happened to many women who e-mail me every day.
I sat in a movie theater with a friend who had succumbed to sexual temptation. She had lost her husband, her family, and many of her "friends." During a preview for another movie, the film showed a woman contemplating an affair with a suave Frenchman. Martha (not her real name) spoke a bit too loudly for the moviegoers sitting in the darkened theater. "Don't do it," she cried aloud. The words came out of her mouth before she could stop them. Martha was living the devastation of yielding to sexual temptation, and her audible cry was the overflow of her pain-filled heart.
Can I shout with Martha for just a moment? "Don't do it!"
I know this devotion is not for everybody. But if there is one woman out of the 200,000 or so that receive our Girlfriends in God devotions every day…just one woman who will turn away from the temptation that is knocking on her door today, then it is worth it.
Don't do it. Turn to God and allow Him to fill the emptiness in your heart today. He's waiting with open arms.
Let's Pray
Dear God, I pray that I will be alert to the devil's schemes today. Help me to see when and where he is tempting me to sin against You. Give me the strength to flee temptation and run straight into Your arms. I cannot do this on my own. I need the power of Your Holy Spirit to empower me to do what is right and good in Your sight. Thank You for being all that I need.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
Now It's Your Turn
Have you been contemplating a sexual relationship outside of marriage? What is God telling you today?
Are you in a sexual relationship outside of marriage right now? What is God telling you today?
If neither one of these application questions apply to you, would you please join me in praying for our dear sisters who are fighting the temptation to enter into such a relationship or struggling to get out of one? Let's hit our knees for our girlfriends in God who desperately need our loving intercession.
If this devotion was for you, would you e-mail me privately at Sharon@sharonjaynes.com? I'd love to pray for you.
More From The Girlfriends
Check out Sharon's latest book: What God Really Thinks about Women: Finding Your Significance through the Women Jesus Encountered. We tend to read the gospels with our twenty-first century eyes. But when we understand how oppressive the culture Jesus stepped into was against women, we begin to understand just how radical Jesus' ministry, messages, and miracles were at setting women free. He risked His reputation to save theirs…and yours. To order this life-changing book, visit www.sharonjaynes.com. You'll fall in love with Jesus all over again.
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