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 Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 8:34 am
What Kind of Tator Are You?
If we compared human nature to vegetables—potatoes in particular—we might be able to categorize people this way:
• People who are bossy and enjoy telling others what to do, but don’t do much work themselves are called “d**k Tators.”
• And there are always a few people who say they’ll help. They intend on getting involved. But they never actually get around to doing anything. They’re called “Hezzie Tators.”
• Some people seem to love conflict. If there’s not any current controversy happening, they’ll create something! They’re called “Aggie Tators.”
• Other people never seem motivated to get involved. They’re content to simply watch while others do the work. They’re called “Speck Tators.”
• Some people try to act like someone they’re not by putting on a front. They’re called “Emma Tators.”
• Some people never actually offer a helping hand, but they constantly find fault with how others do things. They’re called “Comment Tators.”
• And then there are the people who are really genuine. They’re willing to get involved. They help others in need. They make a conscious effort to be a positive influence on those around them. They’re called “Sweet Tators.”
Which kind of tator are you? Are you known for having a critical spirit, or do people truly enjoy being around you? Think about that person everyone loves hanging out with. Chances are, that person knows how to make others feel good about themselves. He/she is an encourager and affirms others easily. That person isn’t a trouble-maker, rather he/she enjoys bringing unity and consensus to problems and tense situations. No wonder everyone loves being around him/her. This person is a “Sweet Tator”!
The Bible talks a lot about unity. Interestingly, the apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 5:9 that it only takes one wrong person to effect an entire group. God doesn’t spread a spirit of discord and argument. He instead, is the Author of peace and harmony. Think about your reputation. Are you known as a peacemaker? Someone who enjoys people and has a positive attitude? Or do others see you as a complainer; one who doesn’t keep his word; or someone who’s trying to something he’s not?
Know It!
God wants to use you to be a positive influence at your school, in your community, at your part-time job, in your family. He can do BIG things through a willing spirit. Are you willing to forget sitting on the sidelines? Ready to hang up a critical spirit? Will you be a “Sweet Tator”?
Read It!
Proverbs 17:22; Romans 15:5; Colossians 3:14; Philippians 2:1-2.
Pray It!
Tell God you’re willing to be molded in His Image. Allow Him to break you and reshape you . . . into a “Sweet Tator”!
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 11:53 am
Undercover Christian?
The first time we meet Nicodemus is when the Scriptures show him coming to Jesus at night. Nick was a Pharisee. And they were the respected religious leaders of Israel. Jesus didn’t have a lot of good things to say about this specific group of people who seemed more concerned about keeping petty man-made rules than they did in genuine worship.
The Pharisees were the ones always questioning the people Jesus healed. When they noticed the paralyzed man by the pool (John 5) had been healed and was now carrying his mat, they didn’t rejoice in his healing. They were angry because he was carrying his mat — which qualified as “working on the Sabbath” and demanded to know who gave him permission to do that!
The Pharisees “talked the talk,” but they didn’t “walk the walk.” In other words, they quoted Scripture, dressed nicely and went to church, but they weren’t genuinely concerned with the well-being of those less fortunate.
Nick was one of these guys. So it’s really no surprise that he came to Jesus during the night. He knew a lot was at stake. He’d heard Jesus preach, seen His miracles and believed He truly was who He claimed to be — the Messiah.
The Bible doesn’t tell us exactly when Nicodemus committed his life to Christ, but if we study the Scriptures we can see definite signs of spiritual growth. The next time we see Nicodemus in Scripture, he’s part of the Supreme Court, and they’re trying to decide how to get rid of Jesus. Nicodemus stuck his neck out and spoke for justice. Even though he was ignored, it took boldness for him to speak out. Quite a difference from when he approached Christ during the night!
The last time Nicodemus is shown in Scripture is after Jesus has been crucified. Nicodemus, along with Joseph of Arimathea, took a huge risk and asked if they could Jesus a proper burial in a special tomb. Nicodemus was no longer an undercover Christian. His spiritual boldness was shining bright.
Though Nick began as a shy Christian afraid to be known for his association with Christ, he definitely made great spiritual strides. God isn’t concerned with how fast you grow spiritually. He doesn’t expect you to become a spiritual giant over night. But He does want to produce steady growth in your relationship with Him.
Know It!
Make time to evaluate your own spiritual growth. Are you growing steadily in Christ, or are you simply standing still? A Christian who stands still for an extended period of time is in danger of falling backward in his relationship with Christ.
Read It!
John 3:1-21; John 7:5-52; John 19:30-40.
Pray It!
Tell God you want to grow closer to Him. Ask Him to deepen your faith and to help you become more bold in your witness.
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Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 1:12 pm
He Knew all the Words
When Nicodemus made an appointment to talk with Jesus at night, he wanted more information on being a Christian. Actually, the term “Christian” wasn’t in use yet; it was coined after Jesus died and the Church was organized. But Jesus spoke boldly and publicly about the necessity to be born again and to experience the forgiveness of sins.
As a Pharisee — an important religious leader — Nicodemus thought he’d heard it all. He knew the Scriptures. He obeyed the rules. He went to the temple regularly. He gave offerings and was a kind and considerate man. Yet, as Jesus spoke about eternal life, Nicodemus realized he was missing something.
So he made an appointment to talk with Jesus. He wanted more information. Jesus told him that in order to enter heaven—to gain eternal life—he would need to be born again. Nicodemus didn’t get it. He asked Jesus how it would be possible for a grown man to become a baby again and be born of his mother a second time.
But Jesus wasn’t talking about a physical rebirth. He was talking about a spiritual birth. Though Nicodemus knew a lot about God, he didn’t actually know God personally. Jesus was telling Nicodemus that he needed to come to God in humility, admit his need for a Savior and seek forgiveness for his sins.
Nicodemus finally understood and became a follower of Christ. Though it was slow, his lifestyle eventually began to reflect his newfound faith. What about you? Do you actually have a personal, growing relationship with the Creator of the universe? Or do you simply know a lot about Him? It can become easy to settle into a good reputation and develop a good habit of church attendance. But if that’s all our Christianity consists of, we’re lacking a great deal!
Know It!
Head knowledge is great, but it won’t get you into the Kingdom of God. You need heart knowledge to have eternal life with Christ.
Read It!
Luke 1:77; Acts 4:12; Romans 1:16; 2 Corinthians 7:10.
Pray It!
Ask God to help you evaluate your relationship with Him. Are you where you need to be spiritually? Or are you merely “talking the talk” without “walking the walk”?
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Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:09 am
What’s Missing?
The following announcements were found in church bulletins.
• Miss Charlene Mason sang, “I Will Not Pass This Way Again,” giving much pleasure to the congregation.
• Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don’t forget your husbands.
• The sermon this morning: “Jesus Walks on the Water.”
The sermon tonight: “Searching for Jesus.”
• For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
• Potluck supper Sunday at 5 p.m. Prayer and medication to follow.
Isn’t it interesting how misplaced punctuation, missing punctuation or a simple rewording of a sentence can change the entire meaning of its message? It’s obvious that something’s missing in the above statements found in church bulletins. But what may not be so obvious is what’s missing in your relationship with Christ.
If Christianity is starting to feel boring to you, or if you’re thinking something may be lacking, it may be time to take a spiritual examination. Answer the following questions:
1. Do I have a daily quiet time with my Savior?
2. Am I involved in church and plugged into a youth group?
3. Am I growing in a Bible study?
4. Is Jesus Christ as real to me as my hands and feet?
5. Do I know the sound of God’s voice?
If you can’t answer yes to all of the above questions, you may need to get more serious about the time you spend with God. If you’ve never disciplined yourself to having a daily devotional time with God, now’s the time to make some changes! Let’s take the next few days and chat more in-depth about how to establish a quiet time.
Know It!
Jesus Christ holds all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Does that sound like something you need? If you’ll make time to meet with Him on a daily basis — have fellowship with Him, learn from Him and allow Him to guide you — He’ll share that wisdom and knowledge with you!
Read It!
Colossians 2:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13; Titus 3:14; 1 Peter 3:12.
Pray It!
Ask God to share His wisdom and knowledge with you, and let Him know how excited you are about meeting with Him on a daily basis.
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Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 3:37 pm
Meeting With God 101
Imagine that computer genius and billionaire Bill Gates said he wanted to meet with you tomorrow morning at 6:30. Chances are, you’d clear your schedule, set your alarm a little early and show up. Why? Because Bill Gates is important. You’d want to meet with him. You’d care about what he had to say.
The King of Kings is much more important than any human! And He has incredible things to say to you. He wants to meet with you every single day. And the best part? He doesn’t want to do all the talking; He wants you to take an active part of the conversation! He wants to hear all about your hurts, your frustrations and your confusion. He also wants to help you celebrate your joys, your surprises and your excitement.
Knowing that God really wants to meet with you on a daily basis, should make you excited! If not, maybe it’s because you’re afraid to getting with Him or are juggling too many other things. Having a personal quiet time (some people call this devotions) is really important. It’s so important, that it’s almost impossible to grow spiritually stronger without it.
If you’ve never disciplined yourself for a daily time with God, let’s create a strategy that will help you get started.
#1: Make a Pledge. Decide that your quiet time with God will be a daily priority, and tell Him so. Be aware that as soon as you make this pledge, you’ll probably find yourself thinking, As soon as this TV show is over, I’ll have my quiet time. Or When I’ve finished e-mailing friends, I’ll begin my quiet time. Part of your pledge to have a daily quiet time should include the decision to avoid these kinds of thoughts and excuses.
#2: Make a Plan. Deciding to have a quiet time is great, but you need a practical plan to turn your good intentions into action. This is where your plan comes in! Set aside a specific time each day to spend time with God. Lots of people like to do this every morning, because it helps them get a jump-start on their day. Others like to do it in the evening so they can review their day with God.
Decide what time works best for you, and then decide on a specific place to have it. Jot these two decisions on a sheet of notebook paper and put it inside your Bible so you’ll have it as a constant reminder.
Know It!
God wants to help you develop strong spiritual muscles. But that’s hard to do without having a consistent spiritual workout. Reading your Bible daily, reading a devotional daily (like this one!) and spending time in prayer will help you develop a strong spiritual physique.
Read It!
Psalm 107; Mark 1:35; Hebrews 6:12; 2 Peter 1:5-9.
Pray It!
Tell God about your desire to grow spiritually stronger and ask Him to help you carry through on your pledge to spend daily time with Him.
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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:20 am
Meeting With God 102
Okay, you’ve decided you want to grow closer to Christ, so you’ve made a commitment to spend time daily with Him. You’ve even come up with a plan that includes when and where you’ll carry out that pledge. But what happens if you miss a day? Do you throw in the towel? Wait till next year and make a brand-new commitment? No. To succeed, you’ve gotta keep on keeping on!
What happens if you miss lunch one day? Do you quit eating lunch altogether? No. If you miss your quiet time one day, pick it up the next day and keep going! The more consistent you become at having a daily quiet time with God, the easier it will be and the more you’ll start to depend on it. You want to eventually get to the point where you truly miss it if you don’t spend time with God every day.
If you do skip your quiet time, stop and think about why you didn’t have it. Was it too hard to get up early? Are you going to bed early enough the night before? Is there anything you need to change in your daily schedule to better accommodate your quiet time? If it’s too hard to get out of bed, put one foot on the floor and go from there!
Also, ask yourself some pointed questions: “If I stay in bed and miss my quiet time, how will I feel about it this afternoon? Tonight? Tomorrow?”
Realize that some quiet times will be more meaningful than others. Don’t expect every single quiet time to be a spiritual high. Try to recruit a couple of prayer partners who will encourage you and hold you accountable. Determine to be honest with them. When you miss a day, let them know.
The Bible shows us that Jesus spent time with His heavenly Father. He sought strength, fellowship and guidance from God. If Jesus Christ needed time with the Father, how much more do you need time with Him? Through your daily quiet time with God, you’ll become more like Christ as you follow His example and as you receive His power through prayer and the Bible.
To talk with God, you have to believe He’s present even though you can’t see Him as you would your parents and friends. Faith isn’t hoping that God will listen and speak with you; it’s trusting that He’s real and available for conversation.
God will speak to you through the Bible — His written Word — as well as through Christian leaders and friends. Sometimes His voice comes through your heart and your mind. Prayer is the process of not only talking to God, but also listening for His voice.
Know It!
Check your attitudes, your motivation and your relationships. If your prayer life is weakened by a problem in one of these areas, pray about that problem and correct it with God’s help.
Read It!
Proverbs 15:8; Acts 1:14; Ephesians 6:18; Hebrews 11:6.
Pray It!
Tell God about your desire to maintain a daily, disciplined time with Him. Ask for His help in putting that into action. Also seek His guidance in find a couple of prayer partners who can hold you accountable in this area.
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Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 12:00 pm
How’s Your Swing?
In 1997, Tiger Woods became the first African American to win the famed the Master’s Golf Tournament. Later that same year, he went on to win two other major tournaments giving him $2,000,000 in winnings. On top of that, were his endorsements which brought in an additional $60,000! Not bad for one year, was it?
After such an incredible year, Tiger surprised the world when he announced to his coach that he wanted to change his golf swing. Many were thinking, You’re crazy! Why mess with a good thing? You’re on top right now!
But Tiger was determined not to settle, and he had a nagging feeling that if he changed his swing, he would actually play an even better game. So he studied video tapes of himself, memorizing every move he put into his swing and making mental notes on how he would change it.
During the next 19 months, he only won one tournament. But after that, he won 10 out of the next 14 tournaments — six of them in a row! He’s the only golfer in history to hold six major titles.
You may think you’re pretty good spiritually . . . but guess what! You’re nothing compared to what you can be! Would you dare to allow God to completely stop you in your tracks in order to change and improve yourself? Yes, it will slow you down at first. And yes, people may wonder why you’re not “on top” any more. But in time, God will be able to do far more with you, in you and through you than He’s doing right now.
The difference? Allowing God to completely break you. Then giving Him the authority to pick up the pieces and remold you . . . reshape you in His image. The best singers are those who sing from a broken — yet healed heart. The best speakers are those who speak from joy born of despair. The best artists are those who are able to paint hope because they’ve known the opposite. The winning athletes are those who are secure enough to climb out of the spotlight for a while to improve themselves while losing.
Know It!
Yes, you may be pretty good right now. You may even feel as though you’re on top of the world. But your “good” is nothing next to God’s “amazing.” Will you give Him the authority to do more with you than you can even imagine? It will require being broken. But when God never leaves His children broken for long. And when He puts the pieces back together, you can rest assured that His creation always shines brighter!
Read It!
Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 1:19; Ephesians 3:20; Ephesians 4:18.
Pray It!
Tell God you’re willing to be broken and reshaped in His image
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Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 8:52 am
Becoming Who God Wants
As Tiger Woods made time to improve his golf swing, you can take time to improve your “spiritual swing.” Let’s take a closer look at what that involves.
1. Open your mind to God’s power. He’s able to do things in your life, with your life and through your life that are beyond your wildest imagination! You may think there’s no way you could teach a Sunday school class, sing a solo or speak in public. And maybe in your own strength, you can’t. But guess what! God’s mighty power is way past your boundaries. He’s dreaming of things for you, you haven’t even thought of yet!
Contemporary Christian artist Scott Kripayne sings a song called “Wild Imagination” that reminds the listener of God’s wonderful creativity and dreams. Grab the CD and plug in your headphones. You, too, will be reminded of all that God wants to do for you beyond what you could dream of yourself!
2. Open your heart to God’s grace. We toss the word “grace” around quite a bit, but do you truly know the definition? Grace is God giving you what you need instead of what you deserve. And He can give you the ability, the power and the desire to make the changes in your “swing” (or your life) that you can’t make on your own.
Perhaps you’ve tried to make positive changes in your own strength. And maybe they’ve lasted for a few weeks or a couple of months. God is able to go far beyond that. He’s able to make changes in your life that will last for eternity!
3. Open your life to God’s love. God is crazy about you! He loves you beyond human comprehension. Whatever changes He prompts in your life—even though you may initially not understand them—are for your good and His glory.
You were created by God for a relationship with God, and until you really understand that, life won’t make sense. Can you open yourself to His power? Can you trust yourself to His grace? Can you commit yourself to His love? If you can, and if you will, He’ll make a masterpiece out of your life!
Know It!
When you walk with the Creator of the universe, you’re in for an exciting ride!
Read It!
Romans 3:22; Ephesians 2:8; James 4:6-8; Romans 5:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:13.
Pray It!
Tell God you’re ready to trust Him with all of your life — including the changes He wants to make
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 8:54 am
Actual Classified Advertisements
Check out the following advertisements. Each was actually printed as is in local newspapers.
• GEORGIA PEACHES — California grown. Eighty- nine cents a pound.
• Two wire-mesh butchering gloves: One 5-finger, one 3-finger. Pair $15.
• Nordic Track $300. Slightly used. Call Chubby.
• Snow-blower for sale. Only used on snowy days.
• Nice parachute. Never opened. Used once.
• Full-sized mattress. Twenty-year warranty. Like new. Slight urine smell.
• OPEN HOUSE: Body Shapers Toning Salon. Free coffee and donuts.
If someone were to run an advertisement on you , how would it read? Maybe you’ve heard the saying, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”
The above advertisements don’t really make the reader want to rush out and purchase the items for sale, do they? Have you ever stopped to think that you’re a walking advertisement for Jesus Christ? So . . . if you actually were arrested for being a Christian, what would the evidence say? Do people know about your relationship with Christ? Is it as obvious as your hair color? When you walk into a room full of people, do they sense there’s something different about you?
Let’s take this a little deeper. Do the following key areas of your life give a true advertisement of Jesus Christ living in your heart?
#1: Conversation. Is your chit-chat filled with gossip and rumors? Any criticism or sarcastic remarks about others? Do you tend to spice your words with bitterness and negativity? Or are your conversations filled with words that bring glory to Christ?
#2: Clothing. Does what you wear (and how you wear it) cause others to question the depth of your relationship with Christ? Do you dress in such a way that the opposite sex has trouble keeping a pure mind when around you? Or have you learned the art of looking in-style yet remaining modest?
#3: Character. Does your lifestyle echo WWJD? Do you base your actions on what Jesus would do? Can others trust you to keep your word? Are you dependable? On time? Honest? Do you live a life of integrity . . . or is there always that little “something” that causes others to doubt your genuiness?
Know It!
You’re a walking billboard for God. Non-Christians are watching your life for clues that say you don’t belong to the world. Are you living up to the advertisement God needs you to be? He can empower you to be a glowing ad of His love!
Read It!
Proverbs 10:9; Proverbs 13:6; 1 Timothy 3:7; Titus 2:7.
Pray It!
Ask God to help you be the living advertisement He wants you to be—one that will glorify His Holy name.
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 9:01 am
Paradise
Since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, airlines have cut back on a lot of the “extras.” They no longer allow silverware in coach class, and most airlines don’t even serve a meal now — unless it’s an international flight.
Here are signs that you’re flying on a “No Frills” airline:
• The airline doesn’t sell tickets, it sells chances.
• You’re not allowed to board the plane unless you have exact change.
• The airplane has both a bathroom and a chapel.
• All the insurance machines in the terminal are sold out.
• Before you take off, the airline attendant tells you to fasten your Velcro.
• There’s no movie. You don’t need one. Your life keeps flashing before your eyes.
• Before the flight, the passengers get together and elect a pilot.
• The captain asks all the passengers to chip in a little for gas.
• You see a man with a gun, but he’s demanding to be let off the plane.
Though airlines have certainly cut down on their frills, God hasn’t cut down on His. Right now He’s preparing a place for you to live eternally with Him. We don’t know exactly what heaven will be like, because our human minds aren’t able to comprehend its splendor. But we do know, God won’t be cutting back on the frills. He’s going all out for His children! We know heaven will be a place of absolute perfection. There won’t be any sickness, no death, no sadness, no sin. Even to describe heaven as eternal happiness would be a gross understatement. We simply can’t imagine how incredibly fantabalastic it will be!
Why will heaven be so grand? Because of God’s lavish love for you! Why will it be perfect? Because God is perfect, His kingdom is also perfect. But how will I get in? I’m nowhere near perfect! That’s where Jesus enters the picture! He’ll stand in front of you, so when God looks at you, He’s actually looking through Jesus to see you. And because Jesus paid the price for your sin — death on the Cross — you’re now declared not guilty. When Judgment Day arrives, and you stand before God, He’ll see a perfect disciple . . . all because of Jesus standing in front of you.
Know It!
Heaven will be the ultimate eternal party of praise, worship, joy and celebration. And God wants so badly for you to share in His lavish forever Kingdom, that He sent His only Son to issue your invitation.
Read It!
Matthew 3:2; Revelation 7:9-10; Revelation 21:5.
Pray It!
Spend some time thanking God for His incredible love for you. Tell Him how excited you are to spend eternity with Him in His perfect Kingdom of heaven.
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Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 9:04 am
Sexual Purity 101
It doesn’t matter if you’ve ever been on a date or not, you still have to settle the issue of sexual purity in your life. Have you given much thought to this all-important issue? You may wonder if you’re abnormal because you’ve never had a boy/girlfriend. Of course, that’s totally ridiculous! Many people don’t date until college or after. Whether or not you date has absolutely nothing to do with being normal. Being normal means having an active, growing relationship with your Creator, Jesus Christ.
You and Jesus are in control of when you begin dating. Don’t let your friends influence that decision. Having a boyfriend or a girlfriend isn’t the most important thing in the world. In fact, there can be some advantages in being relationship-free during your teen years:
— You can eat triple-cheese and onion pizza and not have to worry about your breath!
— No relationship means no break-up.
— There’s no need to take your brain apart trying to create some nifty conversation starters to get him/her talking.
— You have more time to invest in a job, a new hobby or developing your talents.
— There are enough pressures in life as it is without having a guy or girl pressuring you to go further than you want.
— When you’re at a group function, you’re totally free to hang with more than just one person.
— You’re able to concentrate more intently on deepening your relationship with Jesus Christ!
So even if you’ve never been in a guy/girl relationship, chances are great that someday you will! And right now is the time to begin establishing your standards. Think ahead. Have you made a commitment to wait until marriage to become sexually intimate?
If not, how about doing that right now? Go ahead! Take the pledge:
The True Love Waits Pledge
Believing that true love waits, I make a commitment to God, myself, my family, those I date, my future mate and my future children to be sexually pure until the day I enter marriage.
Many people like to wear a True Love Waits ring, pendant, or carry an inscribed key chain. Of course, the symbol isn’t important — the commitment is what counts. But if you’re interested in True Love Waits jewelry, you can check out what’s available from Factory 79: www.factory79.com or call 1-800-677-0832. (This number only works in the U.S.)
Perhaps you’ve made a True Love Waits pledge but are wondering how in the world you’ll be able to keep it. Great point! Let’s take the next few days to unpack a strategy.
Know It!
Sex is an incredible gift created by God Himself. But He has a perfect plan for sex, and He wants you to experience it within the boundaries of a lifetime of marriage.
Read It!
Exodus 22:19; Ephesians 5:3; Philippians 4:8; 1 Timothy 6:11.
Pray It!
Ask God to help you maintain your pledge to remain sexually pure until marriage.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:13 am
Sexual Purity 102
Now that you’ve made a pledge to maintain sexually pure until marriage, let’s look at how you can maintain that pledge. When you’re with someone you really care about, and the passion is rising between the two of you, you may not feel as strongly about your commitment to purity as you do right now reading this book.
You can’t do it on your own, that’s for sure! This is where the power of the Holy Spirit comes into play . . . as well as good ol’ accountability with Christian friends, parents and youth leaders. Before we get into how you can keep the pledge you’ve made, let’s first take a quick detour.
What if you’ve already gone too far sexually? Right now is the perfect time to seek God’s forgiveness and ask Him to grant you “spiritual virginity.” Even though you may no longer be a physical virgin, with God’s forgiveness, you can become a “spiritual virgin.” He will forgive your sexual sin and look at you as though you were a virgin. In other words, He transforms you into a “spiritual virgin” and you live in sexual purity from now until you’re married.
But when you seek His forgiveness, make sure you’re doing it with a repentant heart. The attitude of: “I’ll ask God to forgive me for having sex with my boyfriend . . . even though I know I’ll probably have sex with him again next week . . . He’ll forgive me again.”
Guess what — that’s not a repentant heart! In Bible days, when someone saw a friend going the wrong direction, he would shout, “Repent!” . . . meaning, “You’re going the wrong way. Turn around. Change direction. Alter your course!”
If you come to God with a repentant heart and seek His forgiveness for your sexual sin with the attitude of, “Oh, Father, I don’t ever plan on going down that road again. In fact, I’ll go out of my way to build guard rails around my life that will keep me from moving in that direction again” — that’s reflective of a repentant heart. God will forgive and completely forget, and He’ll grant you “spiritual virginity.”
Know It!
Sexual purity isn’t simply saying no to intercourse. Sexual purity is a lifestyle! It involves what you listen to, who you date, how you dress and what you think about.
Read It!
1 Corinthians 5:9; 1 Corinthians 6:13; 1 Corinthians 6:18; 1 Corinthians 10:8.
Pray It!
Do you need to seek God’s forgiveness for being sexually intimate outside of marriage? If so, now is a great time to pray!
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Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 9:01 am
Sexual Purity 103
Though TV, movies, magazines and even some of your friends will tell you it’s impossible to remain sexually pure until marriage, you can be victorious at keeping your True Love Waits pledge! Let’s use the word SUCCESS to outline our strategy.
S: Start establishing your dating guidelines now! What kind of person do you want to date? Hopefully, you’ll decide to date only Christians (we’ll get into why later). What are your guidelines for dating? You’ll begin with group dating? You won’t be alone with the opposite sex in a dark, secluded area? You won’t go past holding hands? You won’t go past a kiss? What are your guidelines and standards?
U: Understand you can’t get comfortable. If you let your guard down, your standards will begin to slip. In other words, if you’ve decided not to be alone with the opposite sex inside your home, don’t allow yourself to make excuses: But it’s Valentine’s day. He’s just coming over for a few minutes. Mom and Dad will never know. If you’re committed to stay away from R-rated movies, don’t rationalize: But everyone says it’s a great movie. And it would be such a fun date. Probably this one R-rated movie won’t make any difference.
C: Clarify your boundaries. You’ve decided not to kiss the opposite sex until you’re engaged? Then make that known. You’re uncomfortable with the jokes he tells? Let him know. You’re determined to obey your parents’ curfew of being home by midnight? Make that clear.
C: Create your own success story. With God’s help, you can maintain your sexual purity until marriage. Refuse to become one of the millions of statistics about teens who are sexually involved.
E: Expect flack. Know that many around you won’t share your standards. You may be teased and ostracized. That’s okay. Just expect it. You haven’t decided to be sexually pure because it’s the “in” thing to do; it’s not. You haven’t made a True Love Waits commitment because it’s cool. It may never be cool. You’re basing your decision and your actions on obedience to God’s Holy Word. You’re in love in Jesus, and you love Him so much, your heart’s desire is to obey Him and bring glory to His name. That’s why you’re remaining sexually pure.
S: State your convictions. Know what you believe and why. You don’t go to dance clubs? Be ready to explain. You don’t listen to specific secular artists? Get ready to defend your decision. Just believing something in your heart isn’t enough. God wants to help you articulate why you believe what you do.
S: Stay tuned into an intimate, growing relationship with Jesus. There’s no way you can remain sexually pure in your own strength. But when you’re plugged into a supernatural power source — Jesus Christ — you can keep His commands to remain pure!
Know It!
God wants you to be successful in maintaining your purity. He’s your greatest cheerleader. When you feel weak, turn to Him!
Read It!
Matthew 15:19; Acts 15:20; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19.
Pray It!
Spend some time talking with God about your dating guidelines, your convictions, your standards and how you’ll handle the flack from those around you.
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Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 2:00 pm
Sexual Purity 104
Before we move on, let’s stop for a while and recap some important issues regarding sexual purity. Ready for a quiz?
• Does TRUE LOVE really wait?
a. Yes, always.
b. Well . . . if we really love each other, we shouldn’t have to wait.
c. (other)
• We hear the term “SEXUAL PURITY” a lot. But what exactly is it?
a. It means not dating.
b. It’s never going past a kiss.
c. Not having intercourse.
d. Remaining single your entire life.
e. I’m not really sure what it is.
f. I think it’s a bunch of rules we’re supposed to follow when we’re in a dating relationship.
g. It means living in holiness in everything we do — our relationships, our words and our actions.
• God wants us to SAVE sexual intimacy UNTIL MARRIAGE. It’s possible to experience sexual intimacy without having intercourse. Which of the following allow you to experience sexual intimacy? (Check all that apply.)
a. Sitting together on the couch.
b. Resting your hand on his/her thigh.
c. Going to the movies.
d. Lying down together.
e. Sleeping in the same tent while camping together.
f. Making out. (Excessive kissing and fondling.)
g. Riding bicycles together.
h. Playfully slapping each other on the rear.
i. Cuddling on the couch together with his/her head in your lap.
Know It!
Guys and girls don’t think alike. They’re wired completely different. Guys are sexually aroused visually. In other words, what they see greatly affects them! Girls are sexually around through romance. Your goal in a dating relationship shouldn’t be to arouse the opposite sex; it should be to complement his/her relationship with Christ. What you wear, talk about and do all revolve around this!
Read It!
1 Corinthians 5:9; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3.
Pray It!
Ask God to point out anything you’re doing sexually that’s not right with Him. Seek His forgiveness and commit this area to Him today.
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Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 9:45 am
Sexual Purity 105
Unfortunately many Christians think that as long as they’re don’t have sexual intercourse, they’re sexually pure. WRONG! They may technically be virgins, but being a virgin doesn’t necessarily mean one is sexually pure. Sexual purity is a lifestyle! It involves everything we put into our minds, how we act and react, how we live!
Part of maintaining your commitment to sexual purity is being extremely selective about whom you’ll choose to date. It’s smart to set a high standard of only dating Christians who share your morality. What’s wrong with dating non-Christians? Jesus hung out with prostitutes! Jesus’ mission was to bring the world to a saving knowledge of forgiveness for sins and eternal life. Yes, He reached out to everyone; but He didn’t become emotionally intimate with those who didn’t share His faith.
Christ wants you to reach out to those around you — regardless of their religious beliefs — but there’s a huge difference in reaching out to and becoming emotionally involved with someone who doesn’t share your faith. God isn’t calling you to missionary dating. In other words, He doesn’t ask you to date non-Christians so you can bring them to Him. You don’t have to date anyone to bring them to Christ. If you’re attracted to someone who’s not a Christian, be a friend but ask God to bring someone of the same sex to witness to that person and lead him/her to Jesus.
But some of the Christians I know really aren’t worth dating! Great point. Notice the second sentence of the second paragraph on this page: It’s smart to set a high standard of only dating Christians who share your morality. If you don’t go to dance clubs, don’t date a Christian who does. If you’re not listening to specific secular song lyrics, why go out with someone who has inundated himself/herself with those lyrics? Again, be extremely selective about whom you choose to date.
It’s okay to say no! Girls, you don’t have to go out with every guy who asks you. And guys, you don’t have to ask a girl out just because all your friends are dating. Remember . . . the most important thing in your life is not who you’re going out with; it’s your relationship with Jesus Christ! Keep it in perspective.
So if you’re out with a Christian who suggests you compromise your values, guess what! You’re out with the wrong person! Call it off. If you’re tempted to lie to your parents about where you’ve been and what you’ve been doing, guess what! You’ve been with the wrong person, and you’ve been doing things you’ll regret!
Know It!
God wants to help you with the decisions you make concerning your dating life and your standards. Can you trust Him with your dating life?
Read It!
1 Corinthians 6:9; Hebrews 12:16; Hebrews 13:4.
Pray It!
Will you give God complete control of your dating life right now?
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