1 Corinthians 7:3-5 Sharing Ourselves
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: February 15, 2020 1 Corinthians 7:3-5
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
(Understanding the Text) Paul calls sex with her husband a right for a woman. Women need comfort and physical touch. They have a right to expect physical affection and oneness with their husband. The same is true for husbands. Wives should not have “headaches” too frequently. Men also need physical affection, and they need sexual union with their mate. Paul says that when you get married, you are not the only one who has a say-so about your body. You are now partners, not just legally, but also physically. Paul says the only reason to suspend sexual activities by choice is if you are devoting yourselves to seeking God for a specified time. He is saying that sex might focus you on each other at a time when you are trying to seek God, so it is okay to refrain from sex during that time, but he says that it should be for a limited time only and then you should come together again and become one as a couple. I always thought the reason was only physical. Sexual desires needed to be met by the spouse so that they would not become overwhelming and lead to temptation with someone else; however, I think that Paul is referring to another component. Being one physically and spiritually with your spouse makes you able to resist other temptations more strongly. Two are stronger together and can support each other against falling into sinful ways. I think Paul is giving the first reason directly at the end, but the second reason is implied in that the only reason to not have sex by choice is when you want to devote yourself exclusively to God and not be distracted by another person.
This passage on sex helped me understand fasting better. When we eat, we focus on the food and forget about God too often. By refraining from eating, we are taking away a physical influence that will turn our attention to ourselves instead of God. I still can’t fast though because my low blood sugar makes me focus on myself anyway.
(Revelation of God / Application) My application to myself is that God wants us to treat each other with love and respect and regard for each other’s needs. We are to take and give at the same time. The world sees giving as losing, but God’s way of giving is that we receive as we give. In giving pleasure to one we love, we receive pleasure in return. Too often the beauty of sex has been corrupted in this world, but originally it was meant as the ultimate kind of love of giving and receiving at the same time. God wants this for us even when we are abstinent. He wants us to give and therefore receive. If others do not give to us, He will. He declares that when we give to the poor, He will redeem the debt. We do not give expecting to be repaid. We give with no expectation, and we will receive gifts that we never expected.
(Prayer) Help me to always experience the joy that comes with giving. There are times when I feel tired because the people that I am giving to do not know how to give back. They only take. Teach me to always come to You for the soothing joy that comes with unselfish giving. Also, teach me to accept other people’s gifts of love and value them.