Open Heavens 19 August 2018 Sunday Daily Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye
Topic: Bed Undefiled I
Memorise: “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”- Hebrews 13:4
Read: Proverbs 5:15-21 (KJV)
15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
16 Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.
17 Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.
18 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.
20 And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?
21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.
Bible in One Year: Psalm 32-35, Matthew 22:23-46
MESSAGE:
“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” – 1 Corinthians 6:18
The above verse of scripture states God’s views on sexual immorality, which should be taken very seriously by every wise person. The only institution in which God permits sexual relationships is marriage. For this reason, the Holy Spirit says in Hebrews 13:4:
“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”
To the Almighty God who created it, marriage is honourable. Today’s Bible reading enjoins us to gratefully enjoy sexual relations as one of the benefits of holy matrimony. We must however be content to enjoy sexual relations with marriage only. It is an act of ingratitude, insatiability and greed for a person to go after sexual partners other than his or her spouse. This act grieves God’s heart just as it grieved Him when Adam and Eve abandoned all the other fruits they could have eaten in the garden, only to eat that which was forbidden (Genesis 3:11). It is interesting that when God gave Eve to Adam, He gave her to him completely and wholeheartedly. We can imagine a marriage ceremony in which God walks Eve down the aisle and hands her over to Adam “to have, to hold, to cherish and to enjoy.” God’s desire is for spouses to enjoy each other, which is why Proverbs 5:19 says:
“Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.”
What a generous, loving and pleasant Father we have in God, who has blessed us with all things to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17). In as much as He has given us all things to enjoy, we must enjoy them with the boundaries He has set in His word. Having been good to you by giving you that sweet spouse, He is posing this question in Proverbs 5:20 to you as food for thought:
“And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?”
The stranger here is that extramarital sex partner. Beloved, don’t be an ingrate; the consequences will be grievous for you. Hold tight to the partner God has blessed you with and enjoy him or her only.
Prayer Point: Father, I thank You for giving me the privilege of marriage. Please help me to keep my marriage holy as You designed it to be, in Jesus’ Name.
Hymn 17: God, Give Us Christian Homes
1. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught,
Homes where the Master’s will is sought,
Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!
2. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the father is true and strong,
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyous with love and song;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!
3. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the mother, in caring quest,
Strives to show others Your way is best,
Homes where the Lord is an honored guest;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!
4. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the children are led to know
Christ in His beauty who loves them so,
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!
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