Dating

What kind of person should you date? It’s in the Bible, II Timothy 2:22,
TLB. “Run from anything that gives you the evil thoughts that young men
often have, but stay close to anything that makes you want to do right.
Have faith and love, and enjoy the companionship of those who love the
Lord and have pure hearts.”
It is unwise to date someone who doesn’t love God. It’s in the Bible, II
Corinthians 6:14-15, TLB. “Don’t be teamed with those who do not love
the Lord, for what do the people of God have in common with the people
of sin? How can light live with darkness? And what harmony can there be
between Christ and the devil? How can a Christian be a partner with one
who doesn’t believe?” Amos 3:3, NKJV says, “Can two walk together,
unless they are agreed?”
Don’t date someone who claims to be a Christian but doesn’t live it. It’s
in the Bible, I Corinthians 5:11, TLB. “What I meant was that you are not
to keep company with anyone who claims to be a brother Christian but
indulges in sexual sins, or is greedy, or is a swindler, or worships idols,
or is a drunkard, or abusive. Don’t even eat lunch with such a person.”
Avoid dating people who have a bad temper. It’s in the Bible, Proverbs
22:24, TLB. “Keep away from angry, short-tempered men, lest you learn
to be like them and endanger your soul.”
Don’t date a lazy Christian. It’s in the Bible, II Thessalonians 3:6, TLB.
“Now here is a command, dear brothers, given in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ by his authority: Stay away from any Christian who spends
his days in laziness and does not follow the ideal of hard work we set up
for you.”
Inner beauty counts the most. It’s in the Bible, I Peter 3:4, TLB. “Be
beautiful inside, in your hearts, with the lasting charm of a gentle and
quiet spirit that is so precious to God.”
Date someone with a good attitude. It’s in the Bible, Romans 15:5-6, TLB.
“May God who gives patience, steadiness, and encouragement help you
to live in complete harmony with each other—each with the attitude of
Christ toward the other.”
Date someone who encourages you and is supportive. It’s in the Bible,
Philippians 2:1-2, TLB. “Is there any such thing as Christians cheering
each other up? Do you love me enough to want to help me? Does it
mean anything to you that we are brothers in the Lord, sharing the same
Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic at all? Then make me
truly happy by loving each other, working together with one heart and
mind and purpose.
In a dating relationship don’t be exclusive—care about others too. It’s in
the Bible, Philippians 2:4, TLB. “Don’t just think about your own affairs,
but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing.”
Let the relationship progress step by step. It’s in the Bible, II Peter 1:6-7,
TLB. “Next, learn to put aside your own desires so that you will become
patient and godly, gladly letting God have his way with you. This will
make possible the next step, which is for you to enjoy other people and
to like them, and finally you will grow to love them deeply.”
What to avoid on dates. It’s in the Bible, Romans 13:13, TLB. “Be decent
and true in everything you do so that all can approve your behavior. Don’t
spend your time in wild parties and getting drunk or in adultery and lust,
or fighting, or jealousy.”
Dating should not include a sexual relationship. It’s in the Bible, I
Corinthians 6:13,18, TLB. “But sexual sin is never right: our bodies were
not made for that, but for the Lord…That is why I say to run from sex sin.
No other sin affects the body as this one does. When you sin this sin it is
against your own body.”
Keep yourself pure. It’s in the Bible, I John 3:3, TLB. “And everyone who
really believes this will try to stay pure because Christ is pure.”
To keep from hurting ourselves, sexual desires and activities must be
placed under Christ’s control. It’s in the Bible, I Thessalonians 4:3-5, TLB.
“For God wants you to be holy and pure and to keep clear of all sexual
sin so that each of you will marry in holiness and honor—not in lustful
passion as the heathen do, in their ignorance of God and his ways.”
If you have already gone too far physically, what should you do?
First, acknowledge your sin. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 51:2-4, TLB. “Oh,
wash me, cleanse me from this guilt. Let me be pure again. For I admit
my shameful deed—it haunts me day and night.”
Second, Ask forgiveness for your sin—God says you can start over again.
It’s in the Bible, Psalm 51:7-12, TLB. “Sprinkle me with the cleansing
blood and I shall be clean again. Wash me and I shall be whiter than
snow. And after You have punished me, give me back my joy again.
Don’t keep looking at my sins—erase them from Your sight. Create in me
a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires.
Don’t toss me aside, banished forever from Your presence. Don’t take
Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me again the joy of Your salvation,
and make me willing to obey You.”
Third, Believe that God has indeed forgiven you and quit feeling guilty.
It’s in the Bible, Psalm 32:1-6, TLB. “What happiness for those whose
guilt has been forgiven! What joys when sins are covered over! What
relief for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their
record. There was a time when I wouldn’t admit what a sinner I was. But
my dishonesty made me miserable and filled my days with frustration.
All day and all night Your hand was heavy on me. My strength evaporated
like water on a sunny day until I finally admitted all my sins to You and
stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, ‘I will confess them to the
Lord.’ And You forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
Now I say that each believer should confess his sins to God when he
is aware of them, while there is time to be forgiven. Judgment will not
touch him if he does. You are my hiding place from every storm of life;
You even keep me from getting into trouble! You surround me with songs
of victory.”
God has a mate for you. It’s in the Bible, Genesis 2:18, TLB. “And the
Lord God said, ‘It isn’t good for man to be alone; I will make a companion
for him, a helper suited to his needs.’”
Ask the Lord for a mate. It’s in the Bible, Proverbs 19:14, TLB. “A father
can give his sons homes and riches, but only the Lord can give them
understanding wives.”
God will give you your heart’s desires. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 37:4 and
Matthew 6:8, TLB. “Be delighted with the Lord. Then He will give you all
your heart’s desires.” “Remember, your Father knows exactly what you
need before you ask Him!”
Extracted from bibleinfo.com on 2/1/05