DEALING WITH THE OPPOSITES SEX
SCRIPTURE READING:
1 Timothy 5:1-2
1Tim.5.1 - Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as though he were your own father. Talk to the younger men as you would to your own brothers.
1Tim.5.2 - Treat the older women as you would your mother, and treat the younger women with all purity as your own sisters.
The beauty of Christian fellowship is seen in how people of different background, race, culture, tribe, ethnicity, age, gender among others relate with one another freely and genuinely glorifying God in all their actions. In todays reading, Apostle Paul admonishes the young minister, Timothy, to relate well with people. Timothy was to love every member of the Church; old and young, male and female consider them as fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters; treat them all with gentleness and labour to keep them in the Church. Paul was real to the fact that Timothy was a young man with feelings As a result, he admonished him to relate with the members of the church in all purity. He knew the danger which would beset a youthful minister of the gospel when it was his duty to admonish and entreat a youthful female. He was, therefore, to guard his heart with more than common vigilance in such circumstances.
In as much as we deal genuinely with our Christian brethren, let us not lose consciousness of the fact that we are all human beings and that we have sexual feelings and attractions. Let us, therefore, not overindulge in such relationships. Let us also be careful with our dressing and other acts that put our brothers and sisters into temptation. Luke 17:1 says Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come! (RSV). Let us relate well with the opposite sex with all purity and thereby glorify God.
MEMORIZATION
_1 Corinthians 6:18 (NKJV)—"Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body"
PRAYER GUIDE
Lord, help us to be conscious of ourselves in dealing with the opposite and glorify you in our relationships.