Conduct

Read: 1 Timothy 5:1-2, 4:12; Philippians 1:27.

"conduct yourself worthy of the Good News about Christ..." Philippians 1:27

When we discuss dating and relating to the opposite sex we've got to discuss how we conduct ourselves with them. Conduct is defined in the dictionary as personal behavior or way of acting.

• What is your personal behavior or way of acting with the opposite sex?
  
• Do you see every member of the opposite sex as a potential person to date?
  
• Do you examine each member of the opposite sex and decide for yourself hot or not?

Conduct in dating and relating is this:

• What thoughts go through your mind about the opposite sex?
  
• How and what do you think of them?
  
• If their hot do you think one way if they're not do you think another?
  
• How do you treat the opposite sex?
  
• Are you always flirting and trying to position yourself to be in their mind all the time?
  
• How do you touch the opposite sex?
  
• Could your momma see you do that or would she slap you upside the head?

What is your conduct with the opposite sex? There's the flip side of the above too.

• Do you never talk to the opposite sex?
  
• Do you hide from them?
  
• Are you only friends with the same sex?
  
• Are you only friends with the opposite sex?
  
• If you are are a girl do you only get along with boys and vice versa?
  

Your answers to these questions will determine if your conduct is worthy of the Good News that saved you.

1 Timothy 5:1-2 tells us that we are to treat members of the opposite sex as our brothers or sisters. Our conduct should be to treat them like we would our brother or sister. Now answer these questions:

• Would you think about your brother/sister, touch them, look at them and, talk to them the way you do with the opposite sex?
  

If that "way" is impure absolutely not. So then why are you looking at the opposite sex that way? People say you can look, but you cant touch, but we know from Jesus that looking is the same as touching. Our conduct needs to be holy.

Flip side. Some people go to the other end of the spectrum and have no friends of the opposite sex. As you get older 14, 15, 16 and on it's a good idea to make FRIENDS (no b or g attached to that) with holy members of the opposite sex in groups. This will give you the skills when you are ready to date to talk to a girl or guy. It will help you understand a sliver of how they think and act. Good, holy, healthy friendships with the opposite sex are important.

What is your conduct with the opposite sex? If it hasn't been holy or worthy of the Good News, worthy of a Christ follower, repent and make a decision today that you will treat them as brothers and sisters with all purity!

Prayer: Help me to treat the opposite sex as my brother or sister in Christ!