March 2: What's the big deal about sexual purity?

Daily Bible scripture reading: Deut. 21:10-14, 24:5, 22:13-21, 24:1-4, Lev. 18:1-5, Deut. 5:18, Lev. 18:20, 20:10, Deut. 22:22-24, Lev. 19:20-22, Num. 5:11-21, Lev. 19:29, Deut. 23:17,18, Lev: 18 and 20, Ex. 22:19, Deut. 22:5

If you're interested in finding out all the different ways a person can sin sexually, you will find them in today's Bible reading, that's for sure!

Leviticus 18:24-30

Amplified Bible (AMP)

²⁴ Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, for in all these things the nations are defiled which I am casting out before you.

²⁵ And the land is defiled; therefore I visit the iniquity of it upon it, and the land itself vomits out her inhabitants.

²⁶ So you shall keep My statutes and My ordinances and shall not commit any of these abominations, neither the native-born nor any stranger who sojourns among you,

²⁷ For all these abominations have the men of the land done who were before you, and the land is defiled—

²⁸ [Do none of these things] lest the land spew you out when you defile it as it spewed out the nation that was before you.

²⁹ Whoever commits any of these abominations shall be cut off from among [his] people.

³⁰ So keep My charge: do not practice any of these abominable customs which were practiced before you and defile yourselves by them. I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 18:24-30

The Message (MSG)

^24-28 “Don’t pollute yourself in any of these ways. This is how the nations became polluted, the ones that I am going to drive out of the land before you. Even the land itself became polluted and I punished it for its iniquities—the land vomited up its inhabitants. You must keep my decrees and laws—natives and foreigners both. You must not do any of these abhorrent things. The people who lived in this land before you arrived did all these things and polluted the land. And if you pollute it, the land will vomit you up just as it vomited up the nations that preceded you.

^29-30 “Those who do any of these abhorrent things will be cut off from their people. Keep to what I tell you; don’t engage in any of the abhorrent acts that were practiced before you came. Don’t pollute yourselves with them. I am God, your God.”

Leviticus 20:24

Amplified Bible (AMP)

²⁴ But I have said to you, You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the Lord your God, Who has separated you from the peoples.

Live holy lives before me because I, God, am holy. I have distinguished you from the nations to be my very own. (Lev. 20:26 MSG)

We are to live separate, pure lives. And just look around you! Look at the people who give themselves over to sinful living. Look at the people who choose not to. There's a vast difference. There's joy in making Godly choices. Oh, I know it seems boring. But it's not! Look at the lives of the movie stars. (The ones on the gossip magazine covers) Their lives seem glamorous, but certainly not necessarily happy. I've followed some of the movie stars' lives. Some are so sad. Fabulous singers who started out singing in church, then left to make their fortune. They made their fortune, alright. But some have ended up dead caused by giving themselves to wild lifestyles. Seriously, the more we try to please ourselves, the more unhappy we become. 

Please, if you're in a sexually impure lifestyle, just repent, and change your life! It will be hard at first to step away from your current friends and follow Jesus. But along your new path, you will make new friends who pattern their lives after Christ. Turn your life over to God, and follow the called out, chosen lifestyle! It's sooooo much more fun! Living for God is so exciting! Clinging to Him is one adventure after another!  And His yoke is easy and His burden is light!

Matthew 11:28-30

Amplified Bible (AMP)

²⁸ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ^[a]ease and relieve and ^[b]refresh ^[c]your souls.]

²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (^[d]relief and ease and refreshment and ^[e]recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.

³⁰ For My yoke is wholesome (useful, ^[f]good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

"Dear Jesus, I am stuck in an immoral lifestyle that is very complicated. I'm told to just turn everything over to you and walk away, but it's just not that easy. I will hurt people in the process. But I know what I'm doing is against Your word. Please guide me out of this mess I've made of my life. Please help me; I can't do this alone. I am very weak, but I know You are strong. I really need You right now, God. Help me! I give You the glory and honor. I thank You ahead of time. In Jesus' name, AMEN."