This is the will of God

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honour, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; - 1 Thessalonians 4.3-5

We hear it all the time – and it is true. Sex is everywhere. Unless we turned off every electronic device and ignored the internet and cut off all newspapers and magazines and don’t ever go outside or look outside we can’t avoid encountering sex.

But not as God meant it.

Sex is a wonderful gift from God. It is part of God's plan. When sex is in its biblical perspective of a man and woman, joined together in a love filled marriage, it is indeed a wonderful gift.

But the world has corrupted sex. It has made it simply a matter of gratifying the flesh. In a sex crazed and sex driven society it is easy even for God’s people to get caught up in the ways of the world. The rules for sexual behaviour seem to be changing and flexible.

But God’s standards don’t change. No matter how liberal sexual behaviour has become in the world God still says ‘abstain from sexual immorality.’ It is important that we note God doesn’t say ‘abstain from sex.’ God has a place for sex – and there it a wonderful blessing.

Despite all we see around us we can’t use our bodies in the pursuit and passion of our fleshly lusts. It will destroy us. If he doesn’t destroy us it will distract us.

Instead, we are to use our bodies as vessels of sanctification and honour.  Our bodies are for God’s use. Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Ghost and therefore there is no room for sexual immorality.

There are only a few places where we read the words ‘this is the will of God.’ This one of those places.

This is God’s will. Abstain from sexual immorality. Flee youthful lusts. Like Joseph when tempted by Potiphar’s wife we need to run when sexual immorality presents itself.

This is God’s will.