LIFE SCRIPTS

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God;
1 Thessalonians 4:3‭-‬5 NIV

The persuasion by Paul in this passage just helps me to reflect on the nature of the church in Salonika. Paul in his letters to the Corinthians also spoke strongly to them on issues to do with sex and sexuality. It seems as if sexual sin had also permeated this society so much that Christians were being pulled to conform to the world. In this passage, Paul challenges the believers to be different from the rest. Inasmuch as there is a push towards conforming, he reminds them that it is God’s will for them to be free from sexual immorality (verse 3). It’s interesting how realistic these same words would echo in our world today. The pressure to conform is real. It’s laughable to be single and a virgin. Yet God has not backtracked on His standards…He still desires righteousness and purity from all of us. But God doesn’t just leave us hanging. Verses 4 and 5 emphasises on how we can be different from the rest as believers. By learning to ‘control our own bodies’ and not in ‘passionate lust like the pagans’. While believers are self controlled, pagans are lustful and passionate. The difference between the believer and the non believer in our world is the difference between those led by the Spirit and those led by the flesh. Self control is a component of the fruit of the spirit. However, strong lusts are a product of the flesh. If we choose to be led by the Spirit, then we shall conquer the flesh and it’s weaknesses. If not, then we’ll struggle in sin.