1 Corinthians 6:18 says, “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.”

Ephesians 5:3-6 adds, “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person–such a man is an idolater–has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.”

We live in an age that is saturated with sexual temptation and self-indulgence. Sports and entertainment figures, politicians and pastors, teenagers and retirees– all have recently fallen prey to sexual cravings.   None of this is really new under the sun.  King David is described in the Bible as a man after God's own heart.  However, a peek at his neighbor's naked wife shipwrecked David's faith, changing him into a man after Bathsheba's own body. David committed adultery and tried to cover that sin with murder.

1 Corinthians 10:12 warns all of us : “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!”

Rule #1 for dealing with temptation: beware that you can fall.When Jesus was tempted by the devil at the beginning of His earthly ministry, He quoted God's Word.. When Joseph was repeatedly tempted by Potiphar's wife, he fled the compromising situation. Daniel prayed in the lion's den. All of these are great examples for us to live by.

Rule #2: Learn from God's Word to avoid temptation. God promises in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” God offers power and strength to drown our sinful nature in the washing of regeneration and renewal that is holy baptism. Our victorious Lord Jesus feeds us His true body and true blood to nourish our souls and strengthen our faith.

Rule #3: Trust God, the victory and the strength is His, not ours. “With might of ours can naught be done, soon were our loss effected, but for us fights the Valiant One”–these words from “A Mighty Fortress” remind us that even as we struggle against the devil, the world, and our fallen sinful nature, we have access to Christ's victory. 

How serious was David's “unacceptable behavior” in God's eyes? The Old Testament penalty for sexual sin was death by stoning. Yet, God cared enough about David to send the prophet Nathan to call him to repent. Biblical repentance is no hollow, “I'm sorry I wasn't sneaky enough to avoid getting caught!” The Greek word “metanoio” means a change of heart and mind and 180 degree change in behavior. David confessed his sin and famously pleaded for God to create a clean heart within him.

For the woman caught in adultery, Jesus called her to change her life and told her to “Go and sin no more.” With God's grace, all who fall may amend their sinful lives. Even the “unacceptable behavior” of mortal, damnable sin can be repented of and forgiven by Christ Jesus.  As believers we must be aware that we can fall. We need to study God's Word to learn to copy the good examples and avoid experiencing the bad.

And, finally, we trust in Him Who shares His victories with us, by grace through faith! Let's pray for God's strength for ourselves, our brothers and sisters in Christ, the Woods family, the women of Sports Illustrated and all those tempted by them and the more hard-core elements unraveling the fabric of our society.