Matthew 5: 27, 28 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery’. But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Dear God,
Thank You for another day and for my life with sufficient strength to work throughout the hours ahead. Please show me the right way to deal with the pain beginning below my left buttock. I am so grateful, that in answer to my prayer, I was able to find a position in which I eventually could sleep.
I have been so blessed with my health that I may have taken this gift for granted, as well as not give enough consideration in love, for those who are in constant pain, or any other type of disability/illness. Today I pray that You will fill me with Your love and forbearance, as I endure this small trial, and strengthen me to look away from myself and instead up to Jesus, so that I can adequately uphold others in their needs. Praises, Your mercy and comforts are always with me.
The priests of Christ’s day set out to trick Jesus, by asking a question about divorce, arising from their interpretation of what Moses had written; and the two different understandings of this teaching within the priests of the day. Jesus through the Holy Spirit directed their minds to some related aspects that were sin and commonly indulged in their ranks. These included their habit of not thinking it was adultery to lustfully look at a woman, or allowing the husband to divorce his wife for no moral reason. They gave no reply to his answer that pointed them to their own sin, neither did it seem apparent that they had any conviction of their own sin, or need to change.
Please do not let my mind be content, to take an attitude of ‘nearer enough is good enough’ or that of ‘winking’ at my sin or diluting God’s moral code, just to fit around my own desires or sin.
In the days of Jesus, the man could divorce his wife on a flimsy excuse, or because he wanted a new wife, etc., even though she had not committed adultery. As a divorced person, I am comforted, that I have Your blessing, as the recipient of sexual immorality. Even though I know that divorce was never in Your original plan for the marriage partnership which was first instigated in Eden. You never designed that another should in any way set out to separate those joined in marriage; but people did/do find themselves left alone because the other partner had/has moved out for someone else. In these days that have different attitudes about the roles of woman and men, we woman are nevertheless not set free from the responsibility of being true to our promises and upholding the agreements or contracts two people have legally made with each other.
At the time of the adultery and being left for other women; I believe You gave me the opinion that I still hold, which is, all of us have sinned, and sexual adultery is the breaking of one of Your commandments, no less than stealing etc.; and even though painful for me, I can forgive, in Your power, as I can, being told lies or having something stolen from me.
Figuratively I am to put away anything that leads me into sin (Matthew 5: 29 – 31). Not literally my eye or hand, but my thoughts that cause any part of my body to sin. Even if that means breaking habits, contacts, lifestyle habits, or moving locality or jobs. I am so glad I can give You all of me, including my thoughts and besetting sins. Psalm 57: 2 “I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for me.”
Amen