Scripture:
Thessalonians 4:1-8; Genesis 2:20-25
Fri, 6 May 2022

Sex in a God-Given Context

Observation:

Why is sexual immorality wrong in God’s eyes?

Deeper Reflection
THE ONLY GOD-GIVEN CONTEXT FOR SEXUAL INTERCOURSE to be experienced is heterosexual and monogamous marriage as God originally instituted at creation (Gen 2:20-25). It means then that God forbids sex in every other context: heterosexual partner before marriage (fornication) or outside marriage (adultery), or in a homosexual relationship.There is a subtly deceptive form of adultery: emotional adultery. A married Christian may have fallen in love with another person, be emotionally close to each other and physically spend time alone together. And both may relate with each other sexually, but short of sexual intercourse. One may think that it is not wrong, rationalising, “I did not cross the line.” In God’s eyes, even without sexual contact, it is breaking the one flesh marriage covenant with one’s spouse. To God, it is adultery already.The late John Stott speaks as an unmarried person to the singles concerning abstaining from sexual immorality: “We too must accept this apostolic teaching, however hard it may seem, as God’s good purpose both for us and for society. We shall not become a bundle of frustrations and inhibitions if we embrace God’s standard, but only if we rebel against it. Christ’s yoke is easy [Matt 11:29-30], provided that we submit to it. It is possible for human sexual energy to be redirected…both into affectionate relationships with friends of both sexes and into the loving service of others. Multitudes of Christian singles, both men and women, can testify to this. Alongside a natural loneliness, accompanied sometimes by acute pain, we can find joyful self-fulfilment in the selfgiving service of God and other people.”10
10 John R. W. Stott, 84-85
Application:

How do I keep myself sexually pure?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for SGI leaders: To walk in faithfulness to God and in marriage
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

Download this Building Fund QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

Download this General Fund for East QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

Download this General Fund for WDL QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10: 4-19
Sat, 30 September 2023

Strengthened by the Divine Touch

Observation:

What is the significance of the repetition of the terms “strength” and
“strengthen” in Daniel’s encounter with God (vv.8, 16, 17, 18, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
When God sent His Word to Daniel in a vision, it was he “alone saw” the “great vision” (vv.7-8). It was a special privilege of divine sovereign grace. The vision was also a vision of God’s holiness and glory manifested in the awesome appearance of a heavenly being (vv.5-6). Daniel was so utterly overwhelmed by the divine vision, that “no strength was left in me” (v.8). The description, “no strength”, is emphatically repeated four times in Daniel’s encounter with God (vv.8, 16, 17). We may not experience such an utterly overwhelming encounter with God like Daniel’s, but we do experience “no strength was left in me” in utterly overwhelming adversities like being “afflicted in every way” (2 Cor 1:8; 4:8-9).When we have “no strength”, we need the divine touch. God responded to Daniel’s fourfold “no strength” with a threefold divine touch (vv.10, 16, 18): He “touched me again and strengthened me”. When we are so greatly afflicted, that we feel no strength is left in us, and yet we persevere in faithfulness, it is because we are being “strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of great endurance and patience” (Col 1:11). Note the intensity and immensity of this divine power at work in us! This is the divine touch of “the surpassing greatness of power” from God (2 Cor 4:7-9). But we feel the physical and emotional pains more than the Spiritual power. The greater is our suffering, the greater will be the strength from God in us, and the greater will be our steadfastness in God.
Application:

What is my experience of the Word of God and spiritual warfare like in my
discipleship journey?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Church Board: To know God’s power that is perfected in weaknesses
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

Download this New Life Fund QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

Download this General Fund for BPJ QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.