Maintain Family Integrity
TEXT: DEUTERONOMY 22:13-30
“If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel” (Deuteronomy 22:22).
After the fall of the world’s first earthly parents, human race became depraved. Ever since, man had become exposed to all forms of evil and vile affection. It is this unclean disposition that compels the necessity of divine (and to some extent, human) legislation. At the root of this is God’s desire to ensure and preserve moral purity in the family and sanctity in the marriage union.
The Almighty God in His divine wisdom and knowledge included these laws to govern proper sexual conduct and maintain purity and the sanctity of virginity. Due punishment and penalties had been prescribed for all forms of illicit sexual behavior because sins involving sex cannot be described as innocent involvement in fleshly pleasures.
Paul, the great Apostle, spoke about this in his epistles. He recognized the importance of strong rules about sex for true children of God as immorality has the potential and power to destroy the church, the family and the nation. Six laws of chastity are given as basically fundamental to family integrity; and violations were to be punished by stoning violators to death.
As Christian believers we must avoid all sexual impurities either by thought or action. We must ensure that the family unit is not destroyed by avoidable acts of sexual misconduct.
Thought for today: God has not called us to uncleanness but unto holiness.