So, how are we to act if we desire to serve the Lord even when our sexual desire can feel like an all-consuming fire? Again, we return to Paul’s words. “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; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister,” (I Thessalonians 4:3-6).
It is a learning process. Ask yourself, What triggers sexual temptation in my life? Be attentive and avoid these situations. Get a trusted friend to hold you accountable and encourage you. If this has become an addiction in which you cannot get beyond, seek out a pastor or church leader to connect you with resources or counseling to reset your understanding of God-designed sexuality. Furthermore, it is important to remember that just because you can do something, it does not permit you to do it with no responsibility. Ability and responsibility are different concepts. The Bible says, “I have the right to do anything,” you say — but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’— but I will not be mastered by anything,” (1 Corinthians 6:12). We should use our freedom to surrender to the Lord and his pattern for our thought-life and for our actions. For those who desire to follow Jesus, remember, “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s people,” (James 5:3). God gave us our sexual desire. He also gave us the pattern for exercising this gift in a healthy and God-honoring way. God wants to be in every part of our lives. We need to let him be the master over everything, even our sexuality.
As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. — 1 Peter 4:2, NIV
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