Pure and Holy

I recently read some rather shocking information in a recent Christian Post article. In a survey of 716 Christians, conducted by Christian Mingle, released in January, only 11 percent said they would save sex exclusively for marriage. Instead, 60 percent said they would be willing to have sex without any strings attached, while 23 percent said they would have to be "in love." Five percent said they would wait to get engaged.

These are very alarming statistics. How could Christians, followers of Christ say that they would be willing to engage in sex outside of the covenant of marriage? And, not just engage in sex, but engage in casual sex without being in love?

Unfortunately, this happens every day. Boy meets girl. Boy takes girl out. And on first date, boy and girl have sex.

This is disturbing on so many levels. Our society has deemed sex outside of the confines of marriage as acceptable and normal. We can hardly turn on the television and watch anything without viewing a sex scene where premarital sex is not promoted.

We as Christians are not to be conformed to this world. But, we're called to point the world to Christ. Not to allow the world to point us to sin and compromise.

God's standards of purity and holiness are still the same even though times have changed and people would rather adhere to their own standards.

(1)And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. (2)Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:1, 2 NLT)

What the world says is okay, is not okay in God's sight. His standards are still the same. He desires that we honor Him with our bodies. That we refrain from behaviors and practices that the world says are acceptable.

Just because coworkers, friends, family or your favorite celebrities are doing it, does not mean it is for right, nor is it for you.

When we present all of ourselves to God, seeking to please Him with our lives, that is worship. And it is absolutely beautiful to our Father. God want us to worship Him with our lives. To honor Him with all we have. One of my favorite worship songs is 'Here I Am To Worship'. There is one line that says, ' Here I am to worship. Here I am to bow down. Here I am to say that You're my God.' Our very lives should release that sweet melody to The Lord. Everyday as we present ourselves as living sacrifices which are holy and acceptable, our lives should speak and say to our Father, "Here I am worship!" Choosing to remain sexually pure brings great honor to our Father. Listen to the words in the scripture below.

Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20 NLT)

God wants us, as His daughters, to honor Him with our bodies. To live holy before Him. To live in such a way that your life is rendered unto Him as a sweet smelling fragrance. Purity and holiness smells good on you and it's oh so sweet to Him.

Prayer: Father, may I always honor you with my body. Help me to flee sexual temptation and sin. And, to always remember that my body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. I can not do with it, what I please. I make a choice to present myself as a living sacrifice. One that is acceptable and pleasing to you.

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Author: Pamela Bell

Pastor Pamela Bell is a passionate, lover of God, who desires to see God's people walk in the knowledge of who they are in Christ. She resides in Mobile, AL and serves as an Elder at her church, Gulf Coast Christian Center. Pastor Pamela enjoys reading, spending time with friends and all things chocolate.