The Word of God for wisdom:
Proverbs 4:24-27 (ESV)
24 Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. 25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. 27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
The Word of God for inspiration:
Psalm 27:14 (ESV)
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
The Word of God for encouragement:
Matthew 5:27-30 (ESV)
27 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
My observation:
The thing we must understand from the teaching of Jesus in the above passage is that he is not talking about literal surgery. The reason is that removal of the eye or the hand will not solve the problem. The problem is in the heart.
Matthew 5:28 (NLT)
But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Jesus warned his disciples about sin using severe language because of its power to deceive and destroy lives. Therefore, he teaches his disciples to deal with sin drastically, and at the source. First, we need a new heart. Then, we need to guard our heart, and walk daily in the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Galatians 5:16 (NLT)
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves.
My prayer:
Father God, my dear Father, I pray that you will enable me to see sin the way you see it, and diligently guard my heart, and to drastically deal with sin in my life. Father, help me by your power to allow the Holy Spirit to guide my life and keep me pure in heart.
My song:
He Giveth More Grace (Click on link below to listen to this song):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDGonSTXjQU
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http://www.herbcotton.org
To receive via email: Send request to me at: herb@herbcotton.org
2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
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