Does he even get named anymore as a contender in the horse race of life?
We are starting with the concept of abstinence from sex before marriage as we think about no as the better yes and what God might have to say about it.
This is not a gray area from God's point of view (Hebrews 13):
Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex.Abstinence is the no to sex before marriage, but this no, in obedience to God's design, is yes to God's best for us.
Therein lies the secret to no. Does it feed our strength and move us ever closer to our saying yes to God?
God has best figured out for us. What is astonishing is how often we deliberately sabotage it for ourselves.
In the case of this particular no, I hope there is some underground movement gathering strength for the horse named Abstinence. For all practical purposes, he seems rather missing in today's world. We are busy giving the morning after pill to eleven-year-olds. Just yesterday, the FDA lifted all age limits on Plan B One-Step, the emergency contraceptive. (Plan A? Wait!)
We sell out on no. We quit fighting for what is right. It is so much easier to compromise or stay silent.
Abstinence is the easy no to recognize, though it is most difficult to live out as yes to God's best.Tomorrow we will approach the no that is harder to discern--the times we're asked to serve or volunteer or take over or offer something that carries us to a place that might not be God's best. Guilt is right there to influence us. How do we untangle that?
For now, please don't forget the quiet, unassuming horse named Abstinence. Find a potential rider that wants to reach that finish line and become his or her cheerleader. Maybe you're that rider. If so, know that Jesus is cheering the loudest.
Photo: keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk.
Comments are welcome at feedyourstrength@gmail.com.
