Lust: intense or unbridled sexual desire.

I’m sure we are all guilty of lusting after something or someone at  some point and perhaps even often. I’m no stranger to lust. Lust is a form of deception. When we lust, our vision is blurred. We can’t see straight or even think straight. We simply want what we want. We want what the flesh wants. Lust has a way of poisoning love.

“So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.” – Colossians 3:5

Love waits. Lust can’t (and normally won’t).

“Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But, when God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” – Titus 3:3-5

We aren’t told to practice abstinence just to entice you to want to have sex all the more. It’s to protect you. It’s so painful, when being in an intimate relationship and then breaking up, because not only are you connected emotionally but now you have a part of that person. You hear SO many people say, “Please, I’m an adult. I’m having sex.” First of all, age has nothing to do with “being an adult” (aside from our typical ages of 18 and 21 for legal purposes). I’ve met and known plenty of people that are well over 30, 40, 50…and their actions are most certainly not mature and/or “adult-like”. Because you’re married, you’re an adult? Because you have a kid, you’re an adult? I beg to differ. A display of self control and discipline is a step in the right direction. It’s like the dating scene, once you’re out of high school and/or college, is dinner, a movie and sex. And it’s because “that’s what adults do”. D.E.C.E.P.T.I.O.N. 

“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these.” Galatians 5:19-21

Love: the ultimate expression of God’s loyalty, purity, and mercy extended toward his people — to be reflected in human relationships of brotherly concern, marital fidelity, and adoration of God.

Love waits. If someone isn’t willing to wait for you, doesn’t sound like that someone is deserving of your love anyhow. (On to the next one) It’s also wise to date someone that has your same core values. A believer dating an unbeliever…will only result in someone compromising their standards/morals and then settling. We are SO eager to love and be loved and we want to rush love. I mean, you can…but you normally pay for it later. SLOW DOWN. Be content with you. Be content in God. Then allow God to work. Sit back and watch, enjoy the ride. And in the meantime (before that person God has in store for you comes into your life)..LIVE! DREAM! Go to school, build your career, save money, spend money, travel and see the world, be active, do sports, read, find hobbies, meet people, make friends, educate yourselves in other cultures…there’s plenty out there to learn and keep you busy. Do yourself a favor and stop all the rushing. It’s about God’s timing, not yours so you might as well enjoy this world (which he made for us) !

“Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” – 1 Timothy 4:12

Ultimately, not only with our purity but in all we do, we want to be obedient to God. He made sex to be between a husband and wife. The least we can do is respect something so beautiful to share it in the way God intended…not the way man (this world) has twisted it to be.

A friend once said to me, “We’re messed up people. Thank you, Jesus, that you love our mess.” That was one of the most real things I’ve heard in a minute. And AMEN! If Jesus was waiting around for us to be perfect before we came to him…he’d be waiting FOREVER. Jesus wants our mess. He wants to turn the mess around! He wants happiness for us! He wants us to love the way he loves! He wants us! We’re all damaged in our own unique ways and God loves us no matter what. He wants you now, not tomorrow or next week. He’s waiting for you…

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoiced whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endues through every circumstance.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7