Let's Talk About Sex...

SCRIPTURE



Deuteronomy 22:13-30 (NRSV)

Laws about sexual relations

Suppose a man marries a woman, but after going in to her, he dislikes her and makes up charges against her, slandering her by saying, "I married this woman; but when I lay with her, I did not find evidence of her virginity." The father of the young woman and her mother shall then submit the evidence of the young woman's virginity to the elders of the city at the gate. The father of the young woman shall say to the elders: "I gave my daughter in marriage to this man but he dislikes her; now he has made up charges against her, saying, 'I did not find evidence of your daughter's virginity.' But here is the evidence of my daughter's virginity." Then they shall spread out the cloth before the elders of the town. The elders of that town shall take the man and punish him; they shall fine him one hundred shekels of silver (which they shall give to the young woman's father) because he has slandered a virgin of Israel. She shall remain his wife; he shall not be permitted to divorce her as long as he lives.

If, however, this charge is true, that evidence of the young woman's virginity was not found, then they shall bring the young woman out to the entrance of her father's house and the men of her town shall stone her to death, because she committed a disgraceful act in Israel by prostituting herself in her father's house. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

If a man is caught lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman as well as the woman. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.

If there is a young woman, a virgin already engaged to be married, and a man meets her in the town and lies with her, you shall bring both of them to the gate of that town and stone them to death, the young woman because she did not cry for help in the town and the man because he violated his neighbor's wife. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

But if the man meets the engaged woman in the open country, and the man seizes her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die. You shall do nothing to the young woman; the young woman has not committed an offense punishable by death, because this case is like that of someone who attacks and murders a neighbor. Since he found her in the open country, the engaged woman may have cried for help, but there was no one to rescue her.

If a man meets a virgin who is not engaged, and seizes her and lies with her, and they are caught in the act, the man who lay with her shall give fifty shekels of silver to the young woman's father, and she shall become his wife. Because he violated her he shall not be permitted to divorce her as long as he lives.

A man shall not marry his father's wife, thereby violating his father's rights.


DEVOTION

Well, first and foremost, I am happy-glad that law is always paired with Gospel this side of the cross!

When we read the Deuteronomy laws regarding sexual relations and chastity, it ought to make us very, very happy for the grace and mercy shown to us when Jesus died and was resurrected on the third day!

Because of the shed blood of Jesus, law is now paired with good news! The good news is that although the wages of sin are rightly death, the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus!

Just imagine what would happen in 2009 if every human being who was caught having consensual (or non-consensual) sex outside of marriage was stoned to death?

My Lord! Millions of people—men, women, teenagers, and some children would be exterminated from the earth!

We all know that sexual promiscuity is rampant in our communities, especially here in the United States. I personally know of children as young as twelve years old who are sexually active.

Lord have mercy!

It is so sad that human beings have corrupted the original, sacred, and sanctified meaning of sex. God gave us sexual intimacy to share and enjoy within the bonds of marriage, to create children, promote unity, and formulate opportunities for joy and fun with our spouses!

On this day, it is my prayer that all of us will re-evaluate the many ways that we choose to express our sexuality.

As Christians we are called to only do those things that bring glory to God! If we are engaged in sexual relationships that do not cause us to love God and neighbor more, we are living amiss.

But, do not fear, for it is never too late to make things right! No matter what you have done, or who you have done it with, or what the consequences of your mistake, God stands ready and willing to offer you forgiveness and love. Remember, there is no-thing that you can do to outfox, out sin, or out run the love of God revealed to you in Christ Jesus!

Although it is highly unlikely that you will be stoned by your neighbors, sharing your body too freely can lead to dire—and sometimes deadly—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual consequences! It is time to repent which means “to turn around.” You can turn from your poor choices and embrace new ones with the help of God.

Dear friend, I understand that at its root, sex is about a desire to love and be loved and to experience intimacy with another being. Please know that every single human being has these God-given desires. But, sex is not the only way to fulfill them!

Rather, God invites all of us into a loving and intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ! God welcomes us to join the family of God where we can walk in friendship and intimacy with brothers and sisters in Christ. God has surrounded us with family, friends, and loved ones with whom we can choose to share our lives and our deepest secrets without giving our bodies away.

My friends, we have choices about how, when, and with whom we choose to lay down. Today, won’t you go to God in prayer and ask God to guide your relationship choices?

Please pray with me:

God, you are holy and you call me to be holy too. I am sorry for any action that I have done that has not led to greater holiness in my life. I want to walk, talk, and act like Jesus. He is the greatest mentor and example of all time. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I will have the courage and fortitude to resist the temptation to be promiscuous in my sexual choices. Sex is a gift from you and I do not want to abuse it. I love you, please help me to appropriately share your love with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.


THE INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus."

http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html