Eros Love
ICS Daily Devotions
God desires us to have a healthy sex life within the marriage. Sex is intimate and authentic. Therefore, it matters to us.
1 Corinthians 7:4-5(NKJV) The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
In this passage, the Apostle Paul is advocating a healthy sex life within the marriage. The only time to abstain from sex is when we are fasting and praying. We should resume sexual activity within the marriage after we have ended the praying and fasting. God has designed us to have a healthy desire for each other within the marriage, and the Apostle Paul is saying that both the husband and wife can initiate sex within the marriage because God has designed us to have a desire for one another.
Unfortunately, sex within a marriage is often weaponised when there is a conflict between the couple, but sex within a marriage should not be viewed as a reward or something that needs to be earned. Rather, it should be something natural between the couple as an expression of love. However, the devil has taken advantage of the situation. Whenever sex is weaponised, the devil has succeeded in bringing tremendous damage to the relationship. That’s why the Bible tells us not to allow anger to simmer but to forgive each other before the day ends (Ephesians 4:26).
To prevent the devil from taking advantage of us, we must first have spiritual intimacy with God, submitting to the leadership and lordship of Christ. It is challenging to cuddle and have sex when we feel angry, offended, and bitter towards one another. Our emotions are not at the right place to engage in pleasurable sex with our spouse.
While it is acceptable to have a long-distance courtship, it is unacceptable when a couple lives apart for more than a month after marriage. The married couple should live together and work in the same city after marriage because our values and priorities should be God first, family second, and work third.
Finally, we are to leave our parents and cleave to one another when we get married (Genesis 2:24). We are married for love towards each other. We have developed from Philia (friendship) love to Agape (unconditional) love and climax with Eros (sensual) love. Sex is meant to be enjoyed within a marriage as an expression of our love for God and each other.
Sermon Series – Before You Say I Do
