A Privilege of Marriage

1 Corinthians 7:1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

INTRODUCTORY THOUGHTS

It is natural for a man to be attracted to a woman and for a woman to find a man attractive. In fact, in the proper context, this desire is established and even nurtured by the Lord. Yet, this desire is never to be acted upon outside of the marriage bounds (Hebrews 13:4). For this reason, the Bible sets certain parameters. For instance, the Bible says that a man should not “touch a woman” (1 Corinthians 7:1). The Lord gave this privilege only to those who are joined together in marriage. In marriage, neither the husband nor the wife has power over his or her own body (1 Corinthians 7:4). In fact, the only time this privilege is to be withheld from the spouse is for the sake of fasting and prayer (1 Corinthians 7:5). Even this spiritual duty only lasts temporarily so that Satan’s temptation does not overcome the husband or his wife.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

(For children):Mrs. Potiphar had a husband, but she wanted Joseph too. Read Joseph’s godly answer to her (Genesis 39:9). When David took a wife not belonging to him, God was angry (2 Samuel 12:9-10) and God has not changed.

(For everyone):Why is it important for people to refrain from acting upon physical attractions until joined in marriage? How does this make marriage even more precious?

(For everyone):What kind of temptations exist when a husband and wife refrain from intimacy for long periods of time? Would it be fair to say that long periods lacking intimacy are unscriptural (1 Corinthians 7:5)?

PRAYER THOUGHTS

Ask God to protect our children from a loss of purity.

Ask the Lord to strengthen your relationship with your spouse.

SONG

Trust and Obey

Receive the daily devotions on your facebook wall by clicking "Like" on our Facebook Page.