God’s sexual preference

1 Thessalonians 4:3-6 (JDV)

1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is God’s preference, your consecration: that you keep away from sexual immorality,
1 Thessalonians 4:4 that each of you knows how to control his own body in consecration and honor,
1 Thessalonians 4:5 not with lustful passions, like the Gentiles, who don’t know God.
1 Thessalonians 4:6 This means one must not transgress against and take advantage of a brother or sister in this manner, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, as we also previously told and warned you.

God’s sexual preference

God has created each of us with a wonderful, powerful body, capable of two possible sexualities. Each of us has the preference to choose our own sexuality.

We can choose to allow our bodies to control us, becoming slaves to whatever lustful passions emerge from our depraved minds. If we make that choice, then we are choosing to act like the Gentiles. who have no knowledge of God. We are practicing practical atheism — dishonoring God as if his preference does not matter. Pornography or other forms of entertainment which encourage lustful passions only feed this practical atheism.

Also, it leads to a second sin of transgression, because our lusts will lead us to violate the bodies of other men and women, taking advantage of either their weakness or the mutual willingness of their depraved minds.

Thirdly, the choice to follow our lustful passions makes God our judge. He is obligated to avenge our transgressions. He does not want to do that, but he must because he is a just and fair God. He has to punish us for crossing the line.

As I said, God has created each of us with a wonderful, powerful body, capable of two possible sexualities. Each of us has the preference to choose our own sexuality. We can make the right choice. We can choose God’s sexual preference, which is consecration.

Consecration means remaining single if possible. But if they cannot remain single and stay in control, then a husband and wife must practice their sexuality within the confines of their marriage (1 Corinthians 7:2,8,11,32,34; Ephesians 5:28,33). That is the only choice that honors God, avoids transgression, and prevents punishment.

Lord, we consecrate ourselves to your preference.