Honor Marriage - Hebrews 13

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Hebrews 13:4

There is so much that this verse encompasses for us men to consider. I bring it up, because I see this recurring theme throughout the bible about sexually immoral and/or adulterer and it’s easy to write off as “someone elses issue”.

Let’s be clear……sexually immoral includes things like;
Pornography
Strip Clubs
“Happy Ending” massages
Eyeing women who aren’t your wife
Making friends look at girls
Coarse sexual joking
Sexual Innuendo
Inappropriate touching
Inappropriate discussions with women
Intimate discussions with women (possibly about her marriage, sex, or feelings)
Phone sex (other than your wife HA!)
900 numbers
Internet Relationships
Emotional affairs

Guys…I’m sure there are tons of others….but I say all this to say, don’t think that because it’s not listed in the bible….it falls into some gray area.
We are to remain true to our wives. Emotional cheating is still cheating and just as painful as the real thing.
Matthew talked about yesterday….that the divorce rate inside the church is the same as it is outside. We are to remain faithful, attentive to our wives, love her as Christ loved the church, make her feel loved, come home in the evenings, be nice (not a douche), buy her stuff, talk with her….really talk with her, plan a getaway, date your wife, pursue her….and ALL your wildest dreams will come true.

Jenny and I have recently gone through a tough period where she made me aware that I had quit doing those things that she loved….and made her feel special. I was so loving my ministry, my job, and my friends….that we had settled for occasional to rare meaningful conversations and “quickies”.

Me becoming aware of this…and not being defensive …has led to us really becoming closer, enjoying each others company more, loving to talk more, increased passion in our marriage and a rejuvenation of a stale sexual life.

I write all this because I honor and value marriage and I have seen too many marriages fail….in and out of church. So men, be on guard…self-controled and alert. Your enemy Satan, prowls around looking for someone (or a marriage) to devour. (somewhere in Peter)

Lord, let me walk like ELI.

I went to see "The Book of Eli" last night. WARNING: if you have not seen the movie...then you may not want to read any more.
This moving starring Denzel Washington was a great movie. I must say that the premise was a post-apocalyptic account of a man who was guided by God to a place where he found the last remaining bible. He unearthed the bible hidden by debris and was told (by God) to take it west. Not knowing any more than that....he headed west....walking. He walked for 30 years, across the United States...not being deterred by anyone or anything that stood in his way. He read God's word EVERY DAY....placing it in his heart.
He was confronted by vandals, vagrants, murderers, a comfortable life, sex, money, water (of which there was little supply).
One of the key lines in the movie when he was talking to the young girl who fled with him....when she asked about the "old times" or pre-apocalypse....he said;

we had way too much, people used to throw away things we now kill each other for

(this may not be an exact quote...but its close)
As he fought off and killed those that would cause him harm, or keep him from what God called him to...he used uncanny skill in battle, and had unnatural ability to avert harm. He did however (eventually) forfeit the braille bible.
It wasn't until he reached the west coast of California...San Fransisco that we find out that he is blind and that he had walked for 30 years, fought and killed the bad guys and was directed only by his FAITH.
He then met up with a man that he completely orated the entire New King James Bible...which he had memorized.
The journey of Eli was so inspiring.....I was convicted that I live too much by sight... and not enough by faith. I was reminded that when faith is all that you have.....it is sufficient.