Sex: Design. Distortion. Redemption.Sample

Prayer: 

Take a few moments to thank God for the time you have with Him today. Before you begin to read, pray that God reveals truth to you from these passages. Pray that you learn how to uplift our brother and sisters when they fail, that you learn to forgive rather than condemn. Pray that we learn to both receive and give grace, just as freely as God gives it to us.

“Shared Struggle”

Psychologists have identified an interesting technique called “Correspondence Bias,” which most people use without even thinking about it. At its core, Correspondence Bias states that “what other people do reflects who they are,” meaning we attribute someone else’s actions (typically failures) to a character flaw, whereas we attribute our failures to circumstances. For example: I was late to the appointment because other people are poor drivers who created terrible traffic, but my coworker was late to the appointment because he’s ALWAYS late and inconsiderate of everyone else’s time! We often want to enforce justice, while we want to experience grace. We tend to judge the mistakes of others, while justifying our own.

This bias is problematic for many reasons, but one of the biggest problems is that it drives a wedge between ourselves and others. Everyone makes mistakes and fails to live up to expectations, which actually creates an incredible opportunity for us to walk alongside one another with truth and grace. We waste opportunities to empower and encourage each other when we don’t explain truth or extend grace. As Christians, we can stand shoulder to shoulder in our fight against sin, especially in issues that tend to isolate, such as sexual immorality.

God has surrounded us with other people who share the same struggles and the same need for His grace. If we are willing to walk alongside one another with truth and grace in the peaks and valleys of life, we can more easily find His strength in our weakness and His joy in our sorrow.

Questions to Ask Yourself:

1. When do you feel isolated from other people? When do you feel isolated from the Lord? What steps are you taking that lead you into those moments and feelings?
2. Read John 8.1-11 and honestly consider where you are quick to cast stones. When do you judge others, yet justify yourself? How would Jesus respond with words and actions in those situations?

What’s Next:

1. Confess to the Lord and yourself any sins you tend to overlook due to pride or shame. Confess that you need God’s daily strength to pursue holiness just as much as the people around you. Who can you meet with to share struggles and create helpful accountability without simply getting attacked by guilt and shame?