Today’s Verse

1 Corinthians 6:16-17

Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. (NIV)

Our culture often emphasizes instant gratification and casual encounters. The message is: "Whatever feels good, do it." No need for connection, no need for responsibility.

Technology has certainly changed the landscape of relationships. Early dating sites offered anonymity, which could facilitate infidelity. Today, apps like Tinder and even some Christian dating platforms can be used for casual encounters rather than serious, healthy relationships.

In the movie, “Friends with Benefits”, the two main characters are tired of only having sex inside of an emotionally charged, “Committed” relationship (notice we didn’t say marriage relationship). And so they decide to have a non-emotional, sexual relationship with each other. It doesn’t go exactly as planned but in the end, the writers put a nice bow on it and the characters begin a “Committed” relationship with each other.

It sounds so nice when someone else is telling the story, but if this has been your story, you know it doesn’t work like that. Sex outside of marriage always results in guilt, shame, and regrets. You see, when you have sex with someone, you become “one flesh” with them. You are spiritually connected with that person. To me, it's like your souls were connected like two pieces of skin stuck together with superglue. When you were separated, it felt like a part of your soul was torn away, leaving a raw and painful wound. God gave us boundaries for sex, not hindering our freedom, but giving us more freedom, inside the context of a “committed marriage” relationship.

You may have made mistakes - many of us have. But there is grace for that. Christ came, lived the best example for us to follow, and then died on a cross, so that we may be forgiven from our sins, ALL OUR SINS! Not just the easy ones, not just someone else's sins, but yours too, even the sexual sins.

REFLECTION

Take a look at your sexual sins. Take time to confess them to the father, then to a trusted friend. Ask for forgiveness, and then begin to move towards God’s design for sex inside the context of marriage.