Matthew 5:27-30
27 You have heard the commandment that says, “You must not commit adultery.” 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, 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. 30 And if your hand—even your stronger 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 be thrown into hell.
To Jesus – impure thoughts are sin – not just actions. Thoughts lead to actions which lead to character. Jesus urges us to keep our thoughts pure.
God forgives our sins. We are cool with God and God is cool with us.
But where sin increased, grace increased all the more. –Romans 5:20
Even though God forgives our sins, the consequences of our sin remain.
Galataians 5:19-21
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Thomas Costain’s history, The Three Edwards, described the life of Raynald Ill, a fourteenth-century duke in what is now Belgium.
Grossly overweight, Raynald was commonly called by his Latin nickname, Crassus, which means “fat.” After a violent quarrel, Raynald’s younger brother Edward led a successful revolt against him. Edward captured Raynald but did not kill him. Instead, he built a room around Raynald in the Nieuwkerk castle and promised him he could regain his title and property as soon as he was able to leave the room.
This would not have been difficult for most people since the room had several windows and a door of near-normal size, and none was locked or barred. The problem was Raynald’s size. To regain his freedom, he needed to lose weight. But Edward knew his older brother, and each day he sent a variety of delicious foods. Instead of dieting his way out of prison, Raynald grew fatter. When Duke Edward was accused of cruelty, he had a ready answer: “My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills.” Raynald stayed in that room for ten years and wasn’t released until after Edward died in battle. By then his health was so ruined he died within a year…a prisoner of his own appetite.
How to overcome physical and emotional cravings so we can experience spiritual freedom
1. Pray
2. Develop a biblical world view
3. Remove yourself from tempting situations
4. Consider the others who you are hurting
5. Think long-term good and not short-term pleasure
6. Come clean with somebody you trust
7. Have an accountability partner
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