Sex: Design. Distortion. Redemption.預覽

Prayer:

Before starting today’s devotional, take a second to pray and ask God to reveal the helpful boundaries He has placed around you. Pray that as you read through these passages you understand the love these boundaries are built upon.

"Designed for Enjoyment"

In the 1960’s there was a famous test done entitled “The Marshmallow Test” at Stanford University.  Kids were brought into a room and placed in an impossible scenario.  A large marshmallow was placed in front of the child, and the child was told that if he/she can wait, a second marshmallow will be given. The videos showing kids struggling to resist the marshmallow are hilarious.  The theme of “just wait” feels unbearable.  

When it comes to our sexuality, it can feel like God is creating the same experiment.  We can picture God sitting in heaven asking himself, “What experiment can I create to test the limits of these humans!!??  I know! I’ll give these deep desires, and the perfect opportunity, and then tell them, ‘Resist… You can’t do anything with it.’”

However, the Bible actually shows that God takes the opposite approach.  God gives humanity sexual desires and provides the perfect outlet—the loving relationship of marriage.  Proverbs 5 is a pretty risque read.  It tells us to “be intoxicated” with love.  It clearly describes sexual fulfillment.  Sex was created for people to enjoy! And, surprisingly, all true enjoyment comes with parameters.

If you want to enjoy a football game with friends in the front yard, you set some boundaries for the playing field.  By setting the endzones and sidelines, you actually make the game exciting.  The boundaries provide the freedom to enjoy the game.  Our sexuality is infinitely more important than a game in the front yard—that’s why God gives clearer parameters for enjoyment.  But make no mistake, enjoyment is the goal!

Questions to Ask Yourself:

1. As you read Proverbs 5, what surprises you?  
2. Do you think of sexuality as designed with parameters to make it more enjoyable or to stop its enjoyment?
3. How could these boundaries actually provide greater enjoyment instead of less?

What’s Next:

1. If God’s boundaries for sex provide the most enjoyment, do I sometimes desire sexual fulfillment outside of those boundaries?
2. If I want to embrace God’s design, what boundaries should I place in my life to make sure I align with God’s design?