ALL I NEEDED WAS A CUDDLE

“…….One thing led to the other and he took advantage of me.”  This was Betsy’s last statement and she began to cry. It was winter of 2011 when this happened and now she is a single mum to four-month old Jessica. The last time she ever set her eyes on Mark was on Christmas day when she told him she was pregnant. He has not even seen his daughter.

Betsy, 36, was at home, alone on this very cold evening and she began to have this snugly feeling. It came like a surge which left her very desperate for a cuddle up.  Her phone rang while she was making herself a cup of tea. She was unsure whether to return this call or not. She concluded it would be a good idea to return this call and perhaps they could spend sometime together. Mark had met Betsy barely six weeks but has been calling and texting ever since.

My response to Betsy was that the snugly feeling was not the problem but her response to the feeling. God created us and gave us emotions. This is part of who we are as human beings. Our spirit soul and body all engage our emotions to reflect the state of our mind but our emotions in themselves are not meant to control these components of our being.  Unfortunately, what obtains most of the time is the reverse. We have given the reins of our being unto our emotions and do whatever it dictates to us.

As adult single, I noticed whenever I had these feelings, some guy, somewhere just shows up. What makes it happen this way I cannot understand, all I knew was that I would be totally and solely responsible for whatever I choose to do when this aspect of my emotions come calling. Unfortunately I am not the only one that will be affected by the consequences of my rash decision. In Betsy’s case, an innocent child has been denied the joy of fatherly love because of my choice.

No matter how clear the Scripture is on God's precepts regarding sexuality, no matter how convincing the argument that sexual immorality is inconsistent with God's character and His will, sadly, many people will not respond by changing their sexual behaviour. Most of us in today's culture care less about the right and wrong of our actions than we do about fulfilling our craving for love and attention

Sex has become so casual everyone talks about it even more than we talk about the weather. You can hardly turn on the TV, see a movie, or listen to the radio without finding references to it. Not only is our culture talking about sex, it seems that everybody is doing it. 

The biblical boundaries for sex - God's instruction to reserve physical intimacy for marriage have been set aside, disregarded as old fashioned and culturally "out of step." 

Many of us reason that time has changed and that what works for each individual is different. As a Christian, believer in Jesus Christ, what works for you must align with scripture.

Biblical precept of sex is that when it is experienced outside marriage it becomes a sin called immorality. (1 Thess. 4:3)

God’s principle is that we His children should flee from sexual immorality. (1 Cor. 6:18)

God wants us to personally commit this part of our being unto Him to help us keep pure. He offered to help when we become faithless and burning out. (2 Tim. 2:13).

Josh McDowell said God’s intention when he commanded sexual purity was to protect our feelings and to do us good. He wanted to protect us from guilt and from unwanted pregnancies and even possible murder in abortion. He seeks to protect us also from emotional distress.

Our obedience to a life of purity provides peace with God and peace of mind. Provides trust with future spouse and healthy atmosphere for child rearing. Our obedience also provides spiritual reward for true intimacy when we eventually get married.

God is not unsympathetic, (Hebrew 4:14-16). Every "thou shalt not" in the Bible is given to protect us and provide for our good; nowhere is that more clear than in His precept to remain sexually pure. And when we diligently follow the Lord's commands in all areas of our lives, we will find that we are living under the protection of his loving hand and enjoying the immeasurable pleasures of an intimate relationship with him. All other pleasurable experience He will not deny us.

Think about it my beloved Sister.

God bless you.