Saving Yourself For Marriage

535- Before we begin, I feel it is necessary to warn parents with young children at this time that this material is not suitable for children. The biblical commentator Matthew Henry had this to say about this portion of Scripture: this is “a subject not fit to be enlarged upon nor indeed to be mentioned without blushing, that ever any man should be so vile,” But the Bible doesn't sugar coat life, even when it is at it ugliest moments, so parents, beware as we progress through this portion of Scripture verse by verse. I read from 2Sa 13:14,15, “However, he would not heed her voice; and being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her. 15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, "Arise, be gone!" ( 2 Sam 13:14,15” Amnon has sexually assaulted and raped Absalom's sister Tamar. Remember that this love that Amnon felt for Tamar was laden with sexual overtones. All he wanted from her was his own sexual gratification and once he obtained it, he was through with her, and she was discarded by him like an old dirty rag. Young people, pay attention to this account and fight to save your virginity for marriage. First of all because God commands it. He says this about fornication, (that is, sexual activity before marriage.) "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits fornication sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit in you, whom you have of God? And you are not your own, 20 for you are bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.” (1 Cor 6:18-20) Secondly, once the object of sexual gratification has been conquered, there is a high probability that the object will be dropped like a hot potato, much like Tamar. Don't think your case will be different. Sexual conquest is the goal of those that are governed by the lust of the flesh, whereas those who are governed by the Spirit understand God's plan for sexuality expressed in the true oneness of marriage. They embrace it, they treasure it, and patiently wait for it's expression on their wedding day. This kind of spiritual patience will go a long way in learning to treasure each other as man and wife. Father, give our young people the strength to say no to improper sexual expression. A live streaming audio version of this Devo can be heard at 5:50 P.M. CST at www.thefamily.net