"But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman
lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:28
Have you ever thought to yourself: "If people could see, or hear, my
thoughts then you wouldn't like me too much." See, the great thing about
the human mind is also an annoying thing. We cannot know anyone else's thoughts
unless they tell us those thoughts. That's how we can keep secrets, which are
important at times. But, at the same time, if people could hear thoughts then
communication would be so much easier, and more dangerous.
Think about some of the thoughts you've had that you wouldn't want others to know about. You know the thoughts like, "I really don't like that person," "I could just punch you now," and "I hate myself now." If those thoughts got out what would happen? How many relationships would you have?
In this passage Jesus is talking about our thoughts. He uses the example of adultery and says that if we must after someone we've already committed sin. That means that if we think it, it's as bad as doing it. If I think about lying it's as bad as actually lying.
Now, this gets confusing because of temptation. Being tempted isn't a sin. If you act on the temptation it is a sin (Mat.4.1-11). Let's say you mess up on a big project at work. You could tell the truth or you could lie. The Devil is probably going to tempt you to lie. If you think about lying, you come up with a plan to do it, but you don't actually lie then it's not a sin. But, do you think that's a thought God would want you to have?
If we think about lying enough more than likely we will lie. In the case of this passage, if we look at someone lustfully long enough more than likely we will act on those thoughts in some way.
Jesus says this because he wants us to guard our thoughts. We will mess up and have wrong thoughts from time to time. God wants us to grow in him enough that we can push back those sneaky thoughts Satan sends us. One way we can do that is by answering those thoughts with scripture. When Jesus was in the wilderness he answered everything the Devil said with scripture. That's how Jesus avoided temptation and guarded his thoughts. Can't we do the same?
So, are your thoughts godly ones? What can you do to guard your thoughts when temptation comes? Will you come alongside others to help them grow in God and defeat tempting thoughts?
Think about some of the thoughts you've had that you wouldn't want others to know about. You know the thoughts like, "I really don't like that person," "I could just punch you now," and "I hate myself now." If those thoughts got out what would happen? How many relationships would you have?
In this passage Jesus is talking about our thoughts. He uses the example of adultery and says that if we must after someone we've already committed sin. That means that if we think it, it's as bad as doing it. If I think about lying it's as bad as actually lying.
Now, this gets confusing because of temptation. Being tempted isn't a sin. If you act on the temptation it is a sin (Mat.4.1-11). Let's say you mess up on a big project at work. You could tell the truth or you could lie. The Devil is probably going to tempt you to lie. If you think about lying, you come up with a plan to do it, but you don't actually lie then it's not a sin. But, do you think that's a thought God would want you to have?
If we think about lying enough more than likely we will lie. In the case of this passage, if we look at someone lustfully long enough more than likely we will act on those thoughts in some way.
Jesus says this because he wants us to guard our thoughts. We will mess up and have wrong thoughts from time to time. God wants us to grow in him enough that we can push back those sneaky thoughts Satan sends us. One way we can do that is by answering those thoughts with scripture. When Jesus was in the wilderness he answered everything the Devil said with scripture. That's how Jesus avoided temptation and guarded his thoughts. Can't we do the same?
So, are your thoughts godly ones? What can you do to guard your thoughts when temptation comes? Will you come alongside others to help them grow in God and defeat tempting thoughts?
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