God Desires Sexual Purity, Part 2

Sexual purity requires self-discipline.

Yesterday, we examined why sexual purity is so important to God. I shared with you one safeguard phrase Marilynn and I taught our children: Nothing below the neck.

Here's another: Stay vertical. Nothing horizontal.

In today's culture, many teens would laugh at the thought of staying vertical in dating relationships. It's evidence of the decaying and dark culture in which we live.

Parents, we must teach our children that as Christ followers we are set apart from a hostile world (John 17:14). We are to believe and behave differently than those around us. We are to follow Christ, not culture.

Consider these words the apostle Paul penned to Timothy, his young assistant in ministry, "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12).

While some youth may not like it, it is God's truth, which is why we gave our children an added safeguard to preserve their sexual purity: Stay vertical. Nothing horizontal.

Problems come when you lie down with someone. You are unguarded. Without much control.

Stay vertical! It's a helpful boundary for sexual purity.