Flee sexual immorality. Every other sin that a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.
Have you ever accidentally closed a door on your hand or pinched your finger in a door? Pain from these incidents often feels more intense because you were unaware that your hand was in the way. If you knew your hand was in the way of the door, you would move it to prevent the pain. Paul spoke to the Corinthian church about a different kind of pain, encouraging them to flee sexual immorality, reminding them just how deeply this sin harmed them.
Just like we can close a door on our hand accidentally, we often don’t know the impact of sin such as sexual immorality until we see its effect. We do not pay attention to the turmoil that is about to take place because we are often distracted and allured by sexual immorality and the pleasure it promises. We, like Adam and Eve in the garden, question, “Has God really said?” (Genesis 3:1). Or, we think, we surely won’t die (see Genesis 3:3-4), ignoring the damage it will do or denying the truth entirely.
This is why Paul’s exhortation was urgent—flee! When we get caught up in a web of questions, enticed with the possibilities before we make our decision, we not only step closer to sin, but we also damage our trust in God. Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.” We need not be deceived by the temptation of sexual immorality. We know the damage it can do—we have witnessed this in the Word, by our own experiences, and by the testimonies of so many broken people around us. When you face sexual temptation, don’t think twice—flee!
- When you feel the pull of sin toward sexual immorality, how do you seek to trust the words of Jesus?
- Who has guided you in wisdom regarding sexual sin?
- Pray fervently for a heart to flee sexual immorality and to help others do the same.
