RBT: Amos 5-9
TEXT: Matthew 5:27-32
Hymn BH 367: Take Time to Be Holy
Golden Text: But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:28, NIV
Chris' relationship with his wife Rachael had been good until recently when his job started to keep him away. He leaves home very early and works late into the night, and this means spending little time with his wife.
His co-worker Mary keeps him company whenever he had to work late into the night. Chris thinks Mary is complimentary, encouraging and even understands him better than Rachael.
They have had lunch together a couple of times; he enjoys her company and always longs to be with her. Chris sometimes feels awkward about his attraction to Mary, but rationalises that they are just friends.
When we think of adultery, we think of physical intimacy, but today's Scripture points out that emotional intimacy with or strange affection for someone other than one's spouse is adultery.
Jesus said lusting after a woman in the heart, in itself, is adultery. This means that adultery is not limited to having physical intimacy with someone of the opposite sex who is not your spouse; it includes being emotionally attached to another person other than your wife or husband.
Jesus was not recommending physical mutilation to curb lust. He was advocating the need to overcome the inward cause of the sin- a change of heart.
Emotional adultery, just like physical adultery, is a sin against God; both undermine the sanctity of the marriage relationship and are capable of ripping a home apart.
Being honest with oneself to admit the sin and confess it is the starting point of victory. Do you have the mind of Christ? It is Christ indwelling your heart that can enable you to overcome every form of temptation.
Giving Jesus the rightful place in your heart is the practical solution to "adultery in the heart." Come to Jesus Christ today for all-round victory.
PERCIEVE: The presence of Christ in a life is the way to overcome every form of temptation.
PRACTISE: Come to Jesus Christ today for a change of heart.
PRAYER: Lord, purify my heart from every! thought of adultery.
Pray for these ordained ministers and members of their churches: Esther Chukwuezi, Plateau; Philip Ola. Ogunsola, Igbojaye; Adeyemo J. Ademola, Ogbomoso; Alabede Samson, A-Mararaba; Evans Ossai Ugbah, Elelenwo; Sunday Oduola, Lagos; Bala Philemon, Kaduna; Remi Adelakun, Igboho; Simeon O. Ojo, Kwara, Alawode B. Sam, Ada; Bola Opawole, Lagos; Oyekale O. Samson, Ibadan.
Prayer: Lord, grant us the spirit of discernment so that we will not fall prey to agent of the devil.
