16And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. 17If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins." (Exodus 22: 16-17)
This law in the Book of Exodus is a type of restoration, one which pertains to everyone of us, male or female.
Throughout our lives, we are tempted more often than not to "sleep with others" to the degree that we trust ourselves, other people, or other methods rather than resting in the gifts of righteousness and grace which we keep receiving through Jesus Christ (Romans 5: 17)
Paul made it very clear that we the Body of Christ are presented as a chaste virgin to Jesus:
"Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear
with me. 2For I am
jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband,
that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3But I fear,
lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your
minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4For if he
that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye
receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye
have not accepted, ye might well bear with him" (2 Corinthians 11: 1-4)
Paul wrote these words to the Corinthian church, which was the most carnal church in Paul's ministry. Yet even to them he describes them as "a chaste virgin", yet also warns them about "another Jesus", like another suitor who seduces and defiles a maid.
If we have wasted our time with other pursuits, with wasting our time and worship on a wrong understanding of Jesus in our lives, we can rest assured that our Father, who has granted us the Spirit of Adoption of His Son through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8: 15; Galatians 54: 6-7) will restore to us the time and energy that we lost.
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