You are not Your Own

Read Judges 6

Read 1 Corinthians 6

You were bought at a price. Jesus, the perfect man, the Son of God, allowed himself to be tortured and executed for you. They stretched his arms out and nailed them to the cross. They put another spike through his feet. The King already was wearing his crown - a crown of thorns.

He endured this to buy you. You belonged to the Devil, and you were to go down to hell with him. Now God bought you. Now, you are to go to heaven with Jesus.

You are not yours. You never belonged to you anyway. So, you are not to live for your own selfish gain.

But that's tough. It's hard for me, for you, for all people. It's tough, but we are to live for the Lord's glory. And that's why we are encouraged to be sexually pure in our reading today. Think about how your body is involved in sin (even if it is just your mind). That is a body that Jesus bought with his own blood.

What? You are sinner? You fall short of this commandment? Join the club. But we don't celebrate it, indulge in it, or excuse it as no big deal. Sin is serious. And today we are especially encouraged to flee sexual sins.

And today, even as we feel remorse over sin and are frustrated with our own weakness, we can rejoice in our Savior. He knew our weakness. He knew all our sins. He knew the depravity of our minds and hearts. Yet he died for us anyway.

He has abundant forgiveness, and ample strength. He is there for us in our time of need. Call upon him, and he will help. Thanks be to God!

Pray:

Pray from your heart today concerning what you have read in your lessons today. Confess sins, and thank God for full and free forgiveness!

Study with me tomorrow,

Pastor Jon

Soli Deo Gloria!