Further Study: Living Holy Lives
“Love is a pure and holy principle, but lustful passion will not admit of restraint and will not be dictated to or controlled by reason. It is blind to consequences; it will not reason from cause to effect.”-Ellen G. White, Mind, Character, and Personality, vol. 1, p. 222.
“[Love] is pure and holy. But the passion of the natural heart is another thing altogether. While pure love will take God into all its plans, and will be in perfect harmony with the Spirit of God, passion will be headstrong, rash, unreasonable, defiant of all restraint, and will make the object of its choice an idol. In all the deportment of one who possesses true love, the grace of God will be shown.”-Ellen G. White, The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, September 25, 1888.
“Those who would not fall a prey to Satan’s devices, must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts. The mind must not be left to dwell at random upon every subject that the enemy of souls may suggest. The heart must be faithfully sentineled, or evils without will awaken evils within, and the soul will wander in darkness.”-Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 518.
Discussion Questions:
- In The Acts of the Apostles, p. 518 (see above), Ellen White talks about “guarding the avenues of the soul.” What are some practical ways believers can do this? What implications does this principle have for our choices in entertainment and education?
- In 1 Thessalonians Paul frequently uses the phrase “more and more” to describe growth in character and Christian behavior. What can churches do to encourage this kind of “more and more”?
- If a young person asked you to give at least two practical reasons why he or she should “wait until marriage” before sex, what would you say, and why?
Summary: In the first twelve verses of chapter 4, Paul tackles a couple of the most difficult problems found in most churches, particularly urban churches. Sexuality is a very private matter; yet, there is abundant peril to the church when sexual immorality is not confronted. Equally important is the kind of church the world sees in the neighborhood and workplace. Paul’s guidelines in these matters are as important today as they were in his time.
Is there a difference between married couples who are not sexually involved and those who are involved in sexual immorality?
As Christians we need to restrain ourselves from materials which will cut our relationship with God. We better watch what we do, we have to show true love to our fellow people. Lets put Jesus in front of everything for He is the prince of Love..
Love is difficult to understand if we don’t see it in the eyes of God. One other thing I would like to agree with sister White, if we follow our lustful desires we will go astray from our Christian values. What we hear, watch and those whom we associate with can influence our attitude. Right now I am struggling to do off what I have become due to the influence of T.V. Brethren we can only guide the avenues of our hearts by allowing God to direct our every motive. The spirit of God leads us to righteousness, but the desires of the flesh leads us to sin against God and our body.
Romans 8:5-6 “those who live according to sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature disires; but those who live in accordance with the spirit have their minds set on what the spirit desires. The mind of of sinful man is death but the mind controlled by the spirit is life and peace.” (NIV)