Hebrews 13:1-4 | What's the lesson for me today?

Let's talk about the sin of sexual immorality.

4Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
-Hebrews 13:4

The judgment of God is something that ought to be feared. To allow and permit any amount of sin of terrifying when we recognize that our God bears eyes of fire that see through every work and into the hearts of man. Unfortunately, sexual immorality has become so common in our modern world that few recognize the compromises we have made simply because it isn't as bad as it could be. Husbands that watch porn excuse their behavior as, "At least I'm not actually cheating on my wife." Wives likewise will read just as provocative material and write it off as, "At least I'm not watching porn or something." Others will simply entertain lustful thoughts and write it off as not being as bad as other things could be. Single men and women are not excused from this either. Sin must be called out for what it is. This is adultery, plain and simple. Or have we forgotten the words of Jesus when he speaks of adultery?

27You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to depart into hell.
-Matthew 5:27-30

Man may be concerned with the product of your behavior. The Lord is concerned with the heart of it. It is to be dealt with in drastic measure. The problem stems from the fact that a heart that is given to lust is not given to God. You cannot serve two masters. You will love the one and despise the other. Or else you will hate the one and cling to the other. It is common throughout Scripture that you see the adulterous people committing adultery against God as well. They give themselves over to other things, other gods, and the practices of the nations rather than being loyal to God. This is why Scripture can often use graphic adulterous language to describe the sins of the people.

14For you must not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
-Exodus 34:14

God is a jealous God. To commit oneself to such sin is to be at odds with the Lord. Certainly none of us desires any state like that. But we so willingly bring ourselves to such a place. We may know God. Do we glorify Him as God? If not, the results are clear in Scripture.

21For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
 24Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen.
-Romans 1:21-25

I believe the lesson is clear. There can be no compromise when it comes to sexual immorality. The marriage bed must be left undefiled. Let love be genuine; let lust be killed.

What lesson are you taking from today?