Sinful desires: A Precursor to Death

By Thomas Denegre

Did you commit murder? Rob a bank? Have adulterous affairs?  Chances are you’re a good Christian and you didn’t do any of these things.   But Jesus said that was not good enough.

In this week’s reading from Matthew 5:21-35 Jesus teaches there is a higher standard to our behavior, for he states to the crowd;

“Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty of murder before the court.”

“Everyone who has not forgiven his brother their sacrifice or prayer will not be heard.”

“Everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Clearly, it’s not enough that our outward behavior be righteous, but so too must be the thoughts in our heart.  Jesus goes on to say, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” Matt 15:18

Just as it takes three elements to make a campfire; oxygen, fire, and wood.  So, too does sin need three elements; the world we live in, sinful thoughts and desires (motive), and opportunity.

Some people may say, that if sinful thoughts are just as bad as the sin, then why shouldn’t you just do the sin.  Simply, a life in sin kills the heart and separates us from God.  Sin is on the same level as nerve gas and atomic weapons; deadly and catastrophic. 

Acting out sinful desires causes harm and death to us in many ways.

·         One, it causes people to excuse sin rather than stopping sin.  It deadens the heart and we become desensitized to actions leading to death. Good becomes evil and evil becomes good. Sadly, we see this when churches fly rainbow flags to endorse rebellion.

·         Two, sin will kill, steal, and destroy. 

·         Three, intentional sin is rebellion against God, especially when a person celebrates the sin rather than repents from it.

·         Four, sin will always hurt and kill people.  Free love has aborted 60 million people and that’s just the tipping point.

For myself, to stop the opportunity of sin, I must remove the motive of sin in my heart.  Jesus came to target the evil in my heart and transform it into his image. He knows my heart is defiled, but when I became born again, I was given a new spirit and heart.  God said in Ezekiel; “And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 11:19

By living in life union with Jesus and having his words living powerfully within me (John 15:7), I can become aware of my thoughts and motives.  While I cannot stop a thought from occurring, I can stop nurturing it. I also know when I do sin, I quickly repent of it to my Father, because God desires to forgive and heal me. By having a spirit-to-spirit relationship with God, I have a guardian at the gate to my heart that lets in good motives while keeping evil ones out.  I trust God when he said, 'I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.” Jeremiah 24:7

Truth is Truth

"If we go around bragging, 'We have no sin,' then we are fooling ourselves and are strangers to the truth." (1 John 1:8 VOICE)

"...the truth is not in us..." (NIV)

"...refusing to accept the truth..."(TLB)

"...only fooling ourselves..." (MSG)

Of all the many the names of Jesus, Truth is a mighty one. He is many other things: Light, Savior, Redeemer and Lamb, to only name a few. But Truth stands out for me today. We are surrounded by so much untruth, out and out lies, that sometimes it is difficult to discern truth. I am learning that when faced with questioning if something is factual, I must turn to scripture and prayer. Satan can sugar coat deception and make it seem attractive, causing me to wonder what is right, what is wrong; where does truth live?

As I was reading the text for today, I noticed that this verse is teaching us that we are all sinful, imperfect, and far from righteous. We tend to think that everything is OK. If it feels good, do it. But we are really fooling ourselves. Acknowledging this is the first step to confessing and asking forgiveness.

But, when I wrestle with the reality that I am far from perfect; sometimes even denying that I am wrong, I am denying God and His Son. For if I don't admit I am imperfect, capable of sinful behavior, I am refusing to accept the truth. I am refusing to accept Jesus - who is Truth.

There are many examples of this in our society. The political system is at odds with itself, it is at odds with the Truth. Saying that it is okay to sacrifice an unborn baby for the convenience of the parent - is to deny truth. Removing the legal ramifications of murder doesn't make it any the less murder. Truth is truth. Abortion is murder.

As Christians we must pray to right these wrongs, to bring the Truth back into focus. We do this one prayer at a time, one day at a time.

  

1 John 1:8-10

Don't Be Fooled

Satan is cunning and crafty. He is out to fool us, every one of us. Those days when we find ourselves justifying a behavior we know to be wrong, Satan is right there egging us on. He encourages wrong and celebrates evil. He is evil. We know that, yet we still fall into the trap he sets for us. There is no doubt he is over-the-top pleased with himself these days. Just think about the many ways he sets out to trick us into thinking we are right...when we are so wrong.

He has fooled society into believing that murdering babies is okay. More than okay, it is a good thing. Oh, how we will pay for falling for this ploy. Many of the people we admire, Hollywood types, promote and condone these murders. Let us not be fooled. Satan has done a job on them. They have a soapbox most of us don't have, but that doesn't make them right.

Jesus will return, we don't know when, but He is coming. "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory." (Matthew 24:30-31) It will be hard to live through this time, especially for those who work against Him.

During times like today, even believers will find it difficult to be loyal. The lies will be attractive, and we may easily fall prey to the deceptions and falsehoods. But Jesus is coming, make no mistake about it, and He will right all wrongs. When He comes, there will be no doubt; and too late, all will see and understand and be filled with regret--all the nations of the earth will mourn.

Don't be fooled. Make straight your paths! No matter what you are facing now--how big the enemy looks--we know that victory is certain...Because He Died,

Suggestion: Use Psalm 91 to pray for the unborn babies and for their mothers. Psalm 91 has been prayed over our military as they face the enemy on the battlefield. This is a new battlefield, and one that needs our vigilant prayer.

Matthew 24:26-31