1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 CSB "For this is God's will, your sanctification: that you keep away from sexual immorality, [4] that each of you knows how to control his own body in holiness and honor, [5] not with lustful passions, like the Gentiles, who don't know God."
For a Christian (i.e., born-again believer in Jesus Christ), the most straightforward question we will answer today is "What does God want me to do today?" Paul tells the Thessalonian Christians they know how to live and please God (4:1–2). While believers live lives that please God, Paul exhorts us to excel more today than yesterday (4:1–8).
God's will is our sanctification. As a child, money was tight. We would go to Sammy Griffin's Shoe Store for boots. I remember Mr. Sammy saying, get boots a little big, so you grow into them. When we ask Jesus to forgive us and take control of our life, God declares us holy. We receive a new life—the life of Jesus imputed to us. The new life God declares ours is much bigger than we are prepared. God's will for us today is to grow into the life Jesus has already bought us on the cross.
Every day we grow a little in personal holiness. Paul urges us to increase more today than yesterday.
We grow into Christ-sized living by abstaining from sexual immorality. TV, Internet, Social Media, magazines, books, etc., slowly saturate our minds with desires. Today's desires become tomorrow's decisions. Tomorrow's decisions determine our destiny. Society does not set the standard for sexual immorality. God's standard for sexual relationships is clearly defined between one man and one woman in the confines of holy matrimony.
Living together, casual sex, same sex relationships, and a "if it feels good just do it" attitudes have made biblical truth become a list of do's and don't's. God is not restricting us from enjoyment. God protects his children from damaged relationships. Sexual relationships out of God's design hurt us individually, our partners, and other people involved. Today's desires leads to tomorrow's decisions. Tomorrow's decisions can derail the destiny of our relationships. The Apostles Paul and James agree that temptation and physical actions are not the same, but they can become two sides of the same coin.
Lord Jesus, thank you for a new life (Heart and Mind). Holy Spirit, help me to stop accepting the world's standards of morality. I know that temptation and action are not the same. I also know today's temptations leads to tomorrow's desires and tomorrow's desires can lead to impure actions. Help me close the book, turn the channel, block the post, delete the email that does not help grow me into christlikeness today.
Father God, thank you for calling me to holiness. Today I will obey Paul's instruction and remember James promise:
"Blessed is a he who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures" James 1:12–18 (NASB95).
Lord, help me teach my kids, grandkids, and the next generation that Your will for their lives will always result in the best possible relationship between them and You and them and those they love. In Jesus' name. amen.
Daly Devotion
What is God's will for you today?
Verse of the Day, November 18, 2021
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 CSB "For this is God's will, your sanctification: that you keep away from sexual immorality, [4] that each of you knows how to control his own body in holiness and honor, [5] not with lustful passions, like the Gentiles, who don't know God."
For a Christian (i.e., born-again believer in Jesus Christ), the most straightforward question we will answer today is "What does God want me to do today?" Paul tells the Thessalonian Christians they know how to live and please God (4:1–2). While believers live lives that please God, Paul exhorts us to excel more today than yesterday (4:1–8).
God's will is our sanctification. As a child, money was tight. We would go to Sammy Griffin's Shoe Store for boots. I remember Mr. Sammy saying, get boots a little big, so you grow into them. When we ask Jesus to forgive us and take control of our life, God declares us holy. We receive a new life—the life of Jesus imputed to us. The new life God declares ours is much bigger than we are prepared. God's will for us today is to grow into the life Jesus has already bought us on the cross.
Every day we grow a little in personal holiness. Paul urges us to increase more today than yesterday.
We grow into Christ-sized living by abstaining from sexual immorality. TV, Internet, Social Media, magazines, books, etc., slowly saturate our minds with desires. Today's desires become tomorrow's decisions. Tomorrow's decisions determine our destiny. Society does not set the standard for sexual immorality. God's standard for sexual relationships is clearly defined between one man and one woman in the confines of holy matrimony.
Living together, casual sex, same sex relationships, and a "if it feels good just do it" attitudes have made biblical truth become a list of do's and don't's. God is not restricting us from enjoyment. God protects his children from damaged relationships. Sexual relationships out of God's design hurt us individually, our partners, and other people involved. Today's desires leads to tomorrow's decisions. Tomorrow's decisions can derail the destiny of our relationships. The Apostles Paul and James agree that temptation and physical actions are not the same, but they can become two sides of the same coin.
Lord Jesus, thank you for a new life (Heart and Mind). Holy Spirit, help me to stop accepting the world's standards of morality. I know that temptation and action are not the same. I also know today's temptations leads to tomorrow's desires and tomorrow's desires can lead to impure actions. Help me close the book, turn the channel, block the post, delete the email that does not help grow me into christlikeness today.
Father God, thank you for calling me to holiness. Today I will obey Paul's instruction and remember James promise:
"Blessed is a he who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures" James 1:12–18 (NASB95).
Lord, help me teach my kids, grandkids, and the next generation that Your will for their lives will always result in the best possible relationship between them and You and them and those they love. In Jesus' name. amen.