What Jesus Did! 'The Gift' — Matthew 19:10-12

Monday, September 6, 2021

[After talking about divorce not being God's plan and that divorce can lead to adultery,] Jesus' disciples then said to him, "If this is the case, it is better not to marry!"

"Not everyone can accept this statement," Jesus said. "Only those whom God helps. Some are born as eunuchs, some have been made eunuchs by others, and some choose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can."

— Matthew 19:10-12 NLT

Key Thought

God's goal for all people — married or unmarried — is that they live in sexual purity. Some are gifted to be able to do so and remain single with whole-hearted devotion to the Lord. Both Jesus and Paul emphasize that remaining single is desirable for some people and under some circumstances but is not the norm. Most of us cannot remain single, and at the beginning God did say "Be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:28). Only those gifted by God can remain single and truly be fulfilled. The rest of us do not have this spiritual gift. So we are called to honor God with holiness in our walk with him and with our spouse.

Today's Prayer

Holy and righteous God, sexual impurity runs rampant in my world. Help me keep my sexual sanity and purity in a day of sexual confusion, sin, rebellion, addiction, perversity, and destruction. Strengthen my resolve to always live a holy life of sexual purity. Thank you for sharing this grace with me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • 1 Corinthians 7:32-35
  • 1 Corinthians 7:7-8
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:4-8

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Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 19:10-12 NLT — "Only those whom God helps. Some are born as eunuchs, some have been made eunuchs by others, and some choose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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