Paul says that after putting off sexual sin (Eph. 5:3-4a), the believer is also put on the contrasting righteous action of gratitude. When tempted to sin as an expression of his discontentment with God, the believer is to consciously cultivate gratitude in his heart.
How might we express gratitude in our hearts and with our lips when tempted to sin sexually? Here are a number of possibilities:
- Give thanks for the gospel (see chs. 1-3, esp. 1:3-14; 2:1-10) which has redeemed you from a life of sin so that you no longer are enslaved to sin and no longer have to sin.
- Give thanks for the gift of sexuality and the good way in which it can be exercised (and pray for courage to continue obeying Scripture with your body).
- Give thanks for the power of the Spirit and the wisdom of the Word of God to direct you.
- Give thanks that He is more satisfying than anything else.
- If you are single, give thanks for your singleness and your ability to serve God without divided responsibilities.
- If you are married give thanks for your wife/husband and for the gift of God they are to you.
- Give thanks for how God has protected you from carrying out your desires. Or, if you have indulged some of your sinful desires, thank Him for giving you sensitivity to your sin that is producing repentance in you.
- Give thanks for how God has transformed your from the way you used to live (1 Cor. 6:9-11).
- Give thanks that you have a heart that has not been hardened by sin, and though you struggle, still you are struggling and not succumbing.
Notice that not only are these expressions of gratitude, but they are also expressions that can be turned into requests — “Lord thank you for ____, help me to _______.”
Finally, all of these expressions are rooted in other Biblical principles. How many more Biblical ways of expressing gratitude can you think of?
Words of Grace 