TUESDAY, MAY 23
1 Corinthians 5:1
Exodus 20:14

"It is reported commonly that
there is fornication among you…"

THE SCOURGE OF FORNICATION

The Corinthian church faced massive problems with fornication. The term for "fornication" (porneia) is where we get the English "pornography" and it covers all kinds of sexual sin and immorality. In the case of the Corinthian church, it involved the horrendous act of a man sleeping with his stepmother (see Lev 18:7-8; Deut 22:30). The Scripture informs us that even the unbelieving Gentiles would shun such a sin. This is an astounding statement considering that Corinth was famous for being a city of sex. In addition, the present tense of the verb echein indicates that the act was still ongoing. It was brazenness of the highest order.

Just like the city of Corinth, we live in a world that is extremely tolerant of sexual promiscuity. Sexual sins pervade all levels of society. They are committed by the young and the old, the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated. Just look at the increasing rates of divorce, premarital sex and teenage pregnancies! This is the scourge of fornication in our perilous times.

Christians must do their part to guard their hearts from fornication. Please do not think that we have to commit the act to fall into this sin. "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matt 5:27-28).

Let us also not try to excuse fornication by claiming that since premarital sex and adultery are permissible in the nation’s laws, it is therefore alright to commit fornication. A believer’s standard is God’s Word and not the laws of man. It is clearly stated in the Seventh Commandment – "Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Exod 20:14). Just because adultery is not illegal in my country, it does not mean that we Christians can engage in this sexual sin.

THOUGHT: I must guard my heart against all sexual sins.
PRAYER: Lord, guard me against the sin of fornication.