Wednesday, August 31,
2016
But I say, anyone who even looks at a
woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:28(NLT)
The woman….saw that the
tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it
would give her. Genesis 3:6a(NLT)
It’s pretty clear that lust is a term
which describes what happens within when either the
physical eye or the imagination entertains someone or something
that connects with the inner, lower nature.
And it may be worked out in different
ways for women or men, but the principle of lust connected to our lower nature is
the same.
Lust began in Eden with a suggestion
by the evil one that the fruit provide something really great for Eve. She saw with her eye and it
stimulated her craving to have it; her want blinded her commitment
to be obedient.
Jesus taught in the Sermon on the
Mount that the roving eye of a man is connected to his heart, which is where
adultery is first committed; the physical act may or may not follow, but desiring,
planning and being ready to act on that lustful desire is adultery. Being stopped short of the act by conscience
or circumstance can’t change the blackness which lust has already created in
the heart.
We often imagine we can be unaffected
by the little temptations.
Pastor Tom Welch tells about the clown fish that lives on the ocean
floor off Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
The clown fish are found around the poisonous sea anemone. The clowns attract larger fish, and then dart
toward the anemone, hiding within its long, deadly tentacles. It lives like this for a while, with a
temporary immunity. However it
eventually loses its immunity; the tentacles close in on it, and it too
dies.
Just like the foolish Christian, who
flirts with sin and thinks he can remain unaffected by it; at first it seems
only other, weaker disciples are hurt...but soon his spiritual health declines,
and at last, he is completely overcome.
The apostle James put it this way:
These desires give
birth to sinful actions. And when sin is
allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
James 1:15.(NLT)
Lust begins a progression that
eventually destroys all it touches.
So what is the Biblical way to combat
lust? Paul gave invaluable advice here;
he told his young pastor protégé, Timothy:
Run from anything that stimulates
youthful lusts. Instead, pursue
righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on
the Lord with pure hearts. 2 Timothy
2:22(NLT)
Paul also shared his simple formula with the Galatian believers:
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide
your lives. Then you won’t be doing what
your sinful nature craves. Galatians
5:16(NLT)
Here the Bible leaves nothing wanting
for instruction. The idea is two-fold:
1.
You
make a commitment to run from that which will trip
you up.
2.
And
then, know that running from will create a vacuum, and so you run
towards the positive, Christlike ways of living, including the
fellowship of those who can strengthen you in living a Spirit-led life. Get busy serving and it will overcome the
desire to sin-away your relationship with God.
For You Today
Just like someone prone to give into substance abuse
stays out of the neighborhood with pushers and bars, the Christian who is
attempting to flee temptation that provokes lust leaves that neighborhood…and leaves
no
forwarding address!
Go to VIDEO
NOTES
[i]
Title Image: Hieronymus
Bosch (circa 1450–1516) or follower [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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