It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality. (1 Thess. 4:3)
Expanded Passage: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
When children begin learning to use crayons, they will naturally scribble all over the page. As their fine motor skills develop and they have better control, the expectation is that they will start to color within the lines. As a Christian, the expectation is that the transformative process of salvation will be reflected in our daily habits. Nonetheless, like young children we may all require encouragement to color within the lines. For a believer, encouragement acts as a reminder that we should always be developing our holiness. There is a carefreeness that comes with scribbling all over the page. Learning to color within the lines will require more conscious effort.
Before we followed Christ we lived to please ourselves. We may have allowed our bodies to engage in acts that were sinful. Part of coming to Christ means willfully giving up on activities that displease him and surrendering our body to the Lord. Specifically, Paul pointed to the need to steer clear of fornication and adultery. While these are not the only sins that can be committed, sexual sin can rob a believer of enjoying a relationship with Christ because of the shame that it may cause. As we continually dedicate ourselves to God, we develop the strength to deny sexual impurity.
Clean out old habits and strive to be holy.
Olivia Isra’el is a wife, mother, and a CBT therapist who enjoys writing. She is grateful to convey the love of God through text.
© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
