Sexual Boundaries
Bible Reading: Leviticus 18:6-26
We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
While under the influence we may have violated someone's sexual boundaries. This may have involved some form of incest, molestation, rape, or other behavior that violated another person's privacy. Or we may have been taken advantage of in this way. In dealing with something so shameful and damaging, it's common to be in denial. Our denial continues the cycle of shame and devastation in the lives of everyone involved.
God made a long list of forbidden sexual practices including rape, incest, and molestation. Offenders of these laws were sentenced to death. God listed almost every conceivable sexual violation and set up definite boundaries to protect our sexuality. Here are a few: "None of you shall approach anyone who is near of kin to him, to uncover his nakedness: I am the Lord" (Leviticus 18:6, nkjv). "The nakedness of your son's daughter or your daughter's daughter, their nakedness you shall not uncover" (18:10, nkjv). "If a man takes his sister, his father's daughter or his mother's daughter, and sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a wicked thing. . . . He shall bear his guilt" (20:17, nkjv).
Our nakedness—our sexual identity—is precious. It's meant to be ours alone until it's given to a husband or wife. If we have violated another's sexual boundaries, we need to admit the devastation we've caused and get help. If we've been the victim, we need to acknowledge the violation and get help for ourselves.
By admitting our faults, we begin the process toward healing even the deepest of devastations.
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Taken from The Life Recovery Devotional: Thirty Meditations from Scripture for Each Step in Recovery by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. Copyright © 1991 by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.
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