For the word of God is alive and powerful.
It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword,
cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow.
It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
Hebrews 4:12
During my decades as a pastor, I have been directly in touch with the needs of people. Refusing to remain aloof from the pain and brokenness of humanity, my wife and I have seen firsthand the heartache brought on by wrong choices and irresponsible decisions. Rather than hardening us, these up-close-and-personal years in the real world have deepened our understanding, softened our spirits, and given us a compassion neither of us possessed in our earlier years. As our eyes have been opened, our hearts have been broken.
Such exposure has enlarged my perspective and forced me to face issues I could have otherwise missed altogether or conveniently chosen to ignore. Of all the issues I have encountered through all my years of people-related involvements, none are more significant than the sanctity of life and sexual purity. The ground swell of concern surrounding each has made them the inescapable issues of our times. Remaining silent on either is no longer an option.
The devotionals you will read in the next few weeks are the result of that decision. It is my hope that you will feel informed rather than insulted, encouraged to think rather than forced to agree on every point, and ultimately motivated to make the best decisions based on the timeless principles of Scripture.
As a pastor, I appeal to your heart with the words I choose. Open its door and let the truth in. If you do, you will be surprised at how quickly the fog will lift and how clearly the issues will appear. At that point, the right decisions will no longer seem confusing and complicated. They will, in fact, be incredibly simple.
Simple . . . but not easy.
