Good Monday to you my “Walking with Jesus” friends,
As we begin a new week together I have an important question for us: Is the Holy Spirit of God ready to lead us into understanding God’s truth even in such widespread confusion in our world? How does God teach us to think wisely, truthfully, and with purity in our decadent world, when so often public opinion is opposed to God’s ways and God’s truth?
A few days ago, we looked at 1 Corinthians 2 and God’s declaration that one of the Holy Spirit’s roles in our lives is to help us think with the mind of Jesus Christ. That means the Holy Spirit helps human beings understand God and God’s truth! We must recognize THAT is not natural and does not happen without the Holy Spirit’s direct involvement in our lives! (1 Cor. 2:10-15)
Yesterday we began a deeper dive into Paul’s seventh chapter of his first letter to the Christians in the wild, sometimes out of control, big city of Corinth, Greece in about 55ad. Because what Paul was addressing is such an important issue in our world in 2026, no matter where you live in the world or your age, will you join me again today as the Holy Spirit leads us into more discovery of God’s truth about God’s design for MARRIAGE?
Paul, led by the Holy Spirit, wrote in 1 Corinthians 7:3-5: “The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way the husband does not have authority over his own body, but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer…” (1 Cor. 7:3-5) What does God want us to understand about husbands and wives SERVING each other, even in the physical intimacy aspect of their relationship? Have you found this is an area of marriage which can be an emotional and spiritual battleground? This can either draw us together in God honoring holy unity in our marriage or cause us to actually wound each other in selfish conflict.
Has the Holy Spirit taught you some really important lessons about God’s design for a holy and happy marriage? These verses are a fork in the road of marriage relationship: SELFISH or SELFLESS. Serving each other in humility and compassion or demanding from each other in pride, lust and self-centeredness? What have you seen modeled in the marriages of your parents or grandparents? What about your marriage or the marriages of close friends?
Many times a day, through our choices and attitudes, we display what is down deep in our hearts. SELFISH or SELFLESS? It’s seen in the simple things… the garbage can is getting full, who sees it first and simply takes out the garbage without saying anything? The dishes need washing, who simply starts washing? Here’s what I’ve learned: My role in my marriage is to lead my best friend, my wife, with serving her.. and that requires that I know my wife well enough that the Holy Spirit will help me know what she needs and I’ll look for a way to serve that need. Why? Because God has called me to be a channel of HIS love to her. As I lovingly serve my wife, she feels the love of God flowing through me to her. Do you see that my friends? Of course it’s the same as she flows God’s love to me in service. And it’s seen in EVERY aspect of two people living together under the same roof, especially if there are children in that house!
So while Paul is talking about God honoring sexual relations in 1 Corinthians 7, it begins in all the other ways we lovingly serve each other in our marriage relationship, right? When that is working well, then the Spirit of God leads us to serve each other through our intimacy, and that is not restricted to intercourse, rather it’s any way our two bodies make contact. Holding hands, an embrace, rubbing her back etc. The Spirit leads me to lovingly, tenderly Serve my wife, rather than Selfishly expecting or even demanding that she meet my desires!
Can you see this in Paul’s words: “The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.” My marital duty is to protect my wife’s heart from anything or anyone that may wound her heart, making sure that above all I am not the one who wounds her! My marital duty is to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in helping her to be the very best version of herself that she can be, and serving her in achieving that. My marital duty is to treat her as Jesus would treat her if HE were here, married to my wife! And visa-versa, of course. Can you see how that attitude and behavior will produce a wonderful relationship?
Paul challenges us to ALWAYS prioritize our spouse ahead of ourselves. And while Paul declares that in marriage it is appropriate to make our desires known to each other, we are careful to ‘not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer…” (1 Cor. 7:5) Does that mean fasting from sexual intimacy? Yes, that is exactly what it means. Why? For the spiritual purpose of seeking God’s greater work in your marriage, uniting you together spiritually in purity.
And that’s why Paul urges us to prioritize prayer together during that time of intimacy fasting. Have you ever tried that, my friends? I assure you it takes your marriage to a much higher place of purity, holiness and closeness with God! And when the Holy Spirit leads you back again into that physical intimacy with your spouse, it will be with a deeper commitment to holy love, perhaps like you’ve never experienced with your spouse before.
In closing today, do you see Paul was drawing a contrast between this type of holiness in marriage, with the decadent sexual immorality that was so pervasive in Corinth? And what about your city and your marriage? May I urge you to ask the Holy Spirit to teach you Godly wisdom in this? Discuss and pray about it with your spouse. Try SELFLESS rather than SELFISH. Try ‘intimacy fasting’ and prayer. And consider sharing what God teaches you, especially with your children, to help improve their marriage as they try to walk with Jesus while they are growing up in a sexually dysfunctional world!
The ‘lessons learned’ notes will be very helpful at the link below, and the worship song will bless your soul, and I’ll be here ready for you tomorrow.
Today’s Scripture: 1 Cor. 7:1-5
Choose below to read or listen.
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Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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