Intimate Instructions

Intimate Instructions

From the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. Matthew 15:19

We can’t talk about integrity, character, and values to the extent we have without also applying those attributes to our sexual lives as well. After all, the subject of sex occupies quite a bit of time in our thoughts. It’s a vital part of how we were made; God created it and intended it for our pleasure and for procreation.

When we understand His purposes in creating us as sexual beings and respect the boundaries He put around our sexual behavior, it ultimately glorifies Him. And when our sexuality is misused and abused, it can cause heartache, conflict, and destruction on a surprising scale, affecting not only ourselves but even future generations. This deeply personal aspect of our humanity has powerful effects.

Many husbands and wives are afraid to talk about this with each other, and are even more reluctant to talk about it with their children. That’s understandable; it can be awkward. But the alternative is to settle for misunderstandings and let our children learn through the media and from friends—with all the vulgarities and innuendo that come through those channels. As awkward as it is, we need to be more up-front about sex and its effect on our lives.

God certainly isn’t afraid to talk about it. I believe what the Bible says about both the blessings of sex and the boundaries God gave us for it. I believe that any sex outside of marriage, whether during or before, is wrong. Most people would agree that infidelity while you’re married is wrong, but not a lot of people think that sex before marriage is wrong. Regardless of what you think of biblical perspectives on sex outside of marriage, I’m sure you can agree that it’s an important issue and can be a source of a lot of conflict and pain.

Our sexual purity is important to God. What He designed as a picture of unity, intimacy, and love is easily turned into a selfish act with little or no commitment involved. He wants sex to be as satisfying as possible. And the only way for it to be satisfying is for us to follow His instructions for it.

Uncommon Key > Integrity and character should extend to every area of our lives—including our sexuality. God designed us for both passion and purity.