Read

Genesis 2:24 “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”

Think

If you want to make someone uncomfortable in church, just bring up sex. It’s one of the most personal, powerful, and misunderstood parts of life. Some people have been deeply wounded by it. Others feel ashamed. Still others wonder if the Bible is out of touch or unnecessarily restrictive when it comes to sex and identity.

But here’s the truth: God is not awkward about sex. He’s not embarrassed by it. He created it. Genesis 2:24 reminds us that sex is not a random instinct. It’s a sacred design. A man and woman are meant to be united, body and soul, in the context of lifelong commitment. That’s not old-fashioned. That’s protective. God isn’t trying to take something from us. He’s trying to give us something lasting.

Cliffe Knechtle said something powerful this past Sunday: sex divorced from commitment leads to trivialization. We begin to view people like products. We assess attraction like a transaction. Is she hot? Is he worth it? And when the quality drops or the price rises, we move on. That’s what happens when desire is disconnected from covenant.

But God’s design for sex is rooted in something deeper than desire. It’s about union. Binding. Trust. Safety. It’s a picture of intimacy that reflects his own faithfulness. When two people give themselves fully—spiritually, emotionally, and physically—inside the boundaries of marriage, they’re not just sharing an experience. They’re building a bond that mirrors God’s commitment to us.

Of course, this sounds wildly countercultural. Our world says, “Do what feels good. Follow your truth. Don’t let anyone tell you who you are.” But Jesus doesn’t call us to suppress desire. He calls us to submit it. Because some desires lead to healing, and some lead to harm. We don’t determine what is true based on how we feel. We determine what is true based on who God is and what he has revealed in Scripture. That applies to every expression of sexuality—including things like adultery, sex outside of marriage, and same-sex relationships. We don’t make decisions based on our desires, we make decisions based on God’s Truth. We trust that he is working for our good.

Here’s where we must be clear: every person, regardless of sexual history or orientation, carries the image of God. Every person is worthy of respect, dignity, and love. Jesus treated people with compassion and clarity. He didn’t lower the standard, but he lifted up those who had fallen short. He called out sin, and then he called people by name. He welcomed the woman caught in adultery. He spoke truth to the woman at the well. He wept with the broken. And he went to the cross, not for perfect people, but for all of us who have missed the mark—including in our sexuality.

So, what does this mean for us? It means our identity is not in our desires. It’s not in our relationship status. It’s not in what we’ve done or what’s been done to us. Our identity is in Christ. And when we live in his love, we begin to see everything—sex, love, commitment, intimacy—through the lens of grace and truth.

You were made for connection. You were made for covenant. You were made to be known and loved fully. But that kind of intimacy doesn’t start in the bedroom. It starts with trust. Trust in the God who sees everything about you and still invites you to belong.

Apply

Take a quiet moment today to reflect on your view of sex and relationships. Ask yourself honestly, “Have I allowed culture to shape my perspective more than Christ?”

Write down one area, past or present, where you need healing, wisdom, or surrender. It might be a hidden struggle, an old wound, or an area of compromise. Then ask God to begin reordering your desires around his design.

Pray

God, thank you for creating me with desire and for designing sex as something good, not shameful. Forgive me for the ways I’ve misused your gift or tried to redefine it on my own terms. Heal what’s broken in me. Renew how I think. Teach me to love with commitment, not convenience. Help me trust that your ways are better—even when they’re harder. In Jesus’ name. Amen.