Removing the Buttons Part Three - Adultery of the Heart
There's a big difference between a bounce and a fall.
Picture yourself holding one of those giant bouncy balls in one hand and a triple-scoop ice cream cone in the other.
Now picture yourself dropping them at the same time.
One bounces, one falls.
Now keep that image in mind as you read the following from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount:
"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart," (Matthew 5:27-28, NIV).
(Since I'm a girl and I'm writing this with the high-school and college-aged girl in mind, we're going to look at this from a girl's perspective.)
Like the passage on murder (Matthew 5:21-26), this seems a little harsh. Is lust the same as adultery? Do they really deserve the same punishment?
Not my call. But something glares at us from these words that we are wise to understand and believe: Jesus commands us to deal with sin seriously and immediately.
Lust is adultery of the heart, and it starts in the mind. It's one step beyond looking at someone and admiring that person's physical traits. It's allowing your appreciation for a good-looking guy to involve your thoughts. (Don't worry; I'm not making this awkward. That's as far as I'm going to go.)
The Study Bible I use puts it this way in describing the word lustfully: Not a passing glance but a willful, calculated stare that arouses sexual desire. According to Jesus this is a form of adultery even if it is only "in his heart.*"
You can't avoid seeing attractive guys, racy ads, or scenes from movies that are impure. You'd have to completely take yourself out of our society to keep yourself from all things that are sexual.
But here's what this passage teaches us: when that sight or thought or image hits you, you make sure you bounce; you don't fall.
You see, Satan would love nothing more than for that hot guy to become your go-to daydream. Then he becomes your crush and your heart is not set on God but on a guy. You love the thought of him more than your Savior.
You've got to learn to bounce.
So you invite the Holy Spirit to alert you when your brain, eyes, or heart are being led astray. And you learn to bounce when He alerts you to the temptation. You turn your eyes away, you intentionally think about something else, you leave the movie.
You take dramatic steps to stop the sin before it takes root and moves from your brain to your heart.
Here's what the next few verses in Matthew 5 say: "If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell," (verses 39-30, NIV).
Jesus was speaking figuratively here; we're not supposed to literally cut off body parts but we are supposed to treat our sin seriously. We need to know that a little lust can tear apart our faith. We are to be aware of our sin and do whatever it takes to get rid of it.
STOP. THE. SPREAD
It's like an ear bug. You hear the song, you know you don't like it, it annoys you, but you simply can't get it out of your head. So to keep it from driving you insane, you start singing another song every time it sneaks into your brain. And over time, with dedication and focus, the ear bug stays out.
So will lustful thoughts.
But it takes discipline. It takes serious devotion to follow this command and stop your sin before it takes root. Beth Moore once said that she prayed God would convict her of sin while it was still in her brain, before it spread to her mouth or her heart. You learn to do the same thing.
So when that guy or that image or that scene is stuck in your head, try this:
1. Get away. Seriously. You physically remove yourself from that guy, that magazine, that movie. Even if your friends think you're being prudish or holier-than-thou. (Remember: Salt and light! See the post below from August 4 if you missed it.)
2. Repent. Yes, it was only a thought that lasted half a second. But it needs to be removed. So you confess your temptation and ask the Spirit to guard your mind and heart.
3. Go to the Word. You replace that lust with Scripture. Using any Bible-search website, you find a few verses that deal with purity and you make one of them the background screen for your phone, you write it on your journal, or, best of all, memorize it. And every single time that thought attacks you, you use the Sword of the Spirit (see my July 23 blog below).
4. Fill your mind fully with God, however you can. Sing praise songs. Start a new Bible Study. Get a new accountability partner. Read a good God-honoring book. Sit with Him every morning, asking Him, "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life!" (Psalm 143:8, NIV).
And you've taught your eyes and your brain to bounce, not fall.
You can. I promise.
Keep those email subscriptions coming! Put your address above!
And let me know how you're bouncing! Please leave your comments below or notebook with me at myleslienotebook@gmail.com.
*(Copyright 2002 Zondervan NIV Study Bible text notes for Matthew 5:28).
Picture yourself holding one of those giant bouncy balls in one hand and a triple-scoop ice cream cone in the other.
Now picture yourself dropping them at the same time.
One bounces, one falls.
Now keep that image in mind as you read the following from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount:
"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart," (Matthew 5:27-28, NIV).
(Since I'm a girl and I'm writing this with the high-school and college-aged girl in mind, we're going to look at this from a girl's perspective.)
Like the passage on murder (Matthew 5:21-26), this seems a little harsh. Is lust the same as adultery? Do they really deserve the same punishment?
Not my call. But something glares at us from these words that we are wise to understand and believe: Jesus commands us to deal with sin seriously and immediately.
Lust is adultery of the heart, and it starts in the mind. It's one step beyond looking at someone and admiring that person's physical traits. It's allowing your appreciation for a good-looking guy to involve your thoughts. (Don't worry; I'm not making this awkward. That's as far as I'm going to go.)
The Study Bible I use puts it this way in describing the word lustfully: Not a passing glance but a willful, calculated stare that arouses sexual desire. According to Jesus this is a form of adultery even if it is only "in his heart.*"
You can't avoid seeing attractive guys, racy ads, or scenes from movies that are impure. You'd have to completely take yourself out of our society to keep yourself from all things that are sexual.
But here's what this passage teaches us: when that sight or thought or image hits you, you make sure you bounce; you don't fall.
You see, Satan would love nothing more than for that hot guy to become your go-to daydream. Then he becomes your crush and your heart is not set on God but on a guy. You love the thought of him more than your Savior.
You've got to learn to bounce.
So you invite the Holy Spirit to alert you when your brain, eyes, or heart are being led astray. And you learn to bounce when He alerts you to the temptation. You turn your eyes away, you intentionally think about something else, you leave the movie.
You take dramatic steps to stop the sin before it takes root and moves from your brain to your heart.
Here's what the next few verses in Matthew 5 say: "If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell," (verses 39-30, NIV).
Jesus was speaking figuratively here; we're not supposed to literally cut off body parts but we are supposed to treat our sin seriously. We need to know that a little lust can tear apart our faith. We are to be aware of our sin and do whatever it takes to get rid of it.
STOP. THE. SPREAD
It's like an ear bug. You hear the song, you know you don't like it, it annoys you, but you simply can't get it out of your head. So to keep it from driving you insane, you start singing another song every time it sneaks into your brain. And over time, with dedication and focus, the ear bug stays out.
So will lustful thoughts.
But it takes discipline. It takes serious devotion to follow this command and stop your sin before it takes root. Beth Moore once said that she prayed God would convict her of sin while it was still in her brain, before it spread to her mouth or her heart. You learn to do the same thing.
So when that guy or that image or that scene is stuck in your head, try this:
1. Get away. Seriously. You physically remove yourself from that guy, that magazine, that movie. Even if your friends think you're being prudish or holier-than-thou. (Remember: Salt and light! See the post below from August 4 if you missed it.)
2. Repent. Yes, it was only a thought that lasted half a second. But it needs to be removed. So you confess your temptation and ask the Spirit to guard your mind and heart.
3. Go to the Word. You replace that lust with Scripture. Using any Bible-search website, you find a few verses that deal with purity and you make one of them the background screen for your phone, you write it on your journal, or, best of all, memorize it. And every single time that thought attacks you, you use the Sword of the Spirit (see my July 23 blog below).
4. Fill your mind fully with God, however you can. Sing praise songs. Start a new Bible Study. Get a new accountability partner. Read a good God-honoring book. Sit with Him every morning, asking Him, "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life!" (Psalm 143:8, NIV).
And you've taught your eyes and your brain to bounce, not fall.
You can. I promise.
Keep those email subscriptions coming! Put your address above!
And let me know how you're bouncing! Please leave your comments below or notebook with me at myleslienotebook@gmail.com.
*(Copyright 2002 Zondervan NIV Study Bible text notes for Matthew 5:28).
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