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Week 07

A Spiritual Discipline Prescription

by Aaron Bjorklund

 

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:16-18

 

This week’s text references the subject of fasting. Fasting is not as commonly practiced as some of the other spiritual practices. It may seem outdated or irrelevant to our modern sentiments. As we learned from Alex’s sermon Sunday and our devotionals this week, fasting has a place in the life of a Jesus follower. With that said, why would we fast? When should we fast? What actually happens if we fast? These are all relevant questions that may creep into your mind if you are considering trying this practice. Perhaps an indirect but effective way to begin answering these questions is to understand how spiritual practices work in the life of a person. 

Spiritual practices are tools that God can use in someone’s life to help them grow and transform. They are not means of salvation or ways to earn brownie points with God. Instead, they are helpful tools of discipleship transformation. Understanding spiritual practices are helpful like a doctor’s prescription or a coach’s training regimen. Our ailment is sin; spiritual practices are the prescription God offers to help us heal and grow. There are sins of commission: things that we do that we ought not to do. There are also sins of omission: things that we don’t do that we ought to do. 

Armed with those broad categories, we can see that spiritual practices match those challenges. If you are struggling with a sin of commission, a practice of abstinence could help combat that sin tendency in your life. This is where fasting comes in. Fasting is a wonderful tool to combat sins of commission. If you have a tendency to overindulge in something, fasting can strengthen your soul’s capacity to fight that action. 

Take a moment to evaluate the sins that you struggle with. Commit to a spiritual practice that contrasts with that struggle. 

 

Note. To access scripture links that don’t appear in the email version, read the web version in your browser.

 

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Red Couch Theology Podcast

Sermon Conversations with Alex and Aaron

There’s only so much we can cover in a Sunday morning gathering!
Each week, you’re invited to tune into our LIVE podcast at 11 am on Thursdays – recorded (and sometimes prerecorded) for later, online viewing.

What can you expect? Pastors Alex, Aaron and the occasional guest, having a casual conversation diving deeper into ideas related to last Sunday’s teaching:


Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 6:16-18

(See also Isaiah 58)

Questions may be sent through
https://redcouchtheology.com/  

Blog sites:

Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCWnNSTN-6XA7oYy6TBfS0LAxqxPvxVjH

Apple Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guys-drinking-tea/id1616539767 

A Spiritual Discipline Prescription2024-03-10T14:47:50-06:00

Conspicuous Righteousness

by Kathleen Petersen

When you fast, do not look sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractive so that people will see them fasting. I tell you the truth, they have their reward! When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others when you are fasting, but only to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:16-18 NET


Like other customary Jewish religious practices of Jesus’ day, fasting showed extraordinary dedication to God. Jesus pointed out that these practices, including prayer and charitable giving, had too often become just a show with the hopes of earthly benefits. Such conspicuous practices had not been directed toward our Father in Heaven, but orchestrated to build a reputation that would impress both religionists and common people.  

Because American evangelicals haven’t been bound to observing as many rites, ancient customs and holidays as other branches of Christianity, we can be inclined to think we are more centered on the basics and thus more pleasing to God. But, even if we consider those ancient customs as “show religion”,
have we acclimated ourselves to other religious performances?

The book of Acts describes the inspiring motivation of the newly formed Jerusalem Church:

The group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was held in common. Acts 4:32 NET

“One heart and mind” What a beautiful description of wholehearted service. Sadly, it didn’t take much time for a couple engaged in this tender environment
to devise a self centered act of giving.

Now a man named Ananias, together with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of property. He kept back for himself part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge; he brought only part of it and placed it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of the land? Before it was sold, did it not belong to you? And when it was sold, was the money not at your disposal? How have you thought up this deed in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God!”
Acts 5:1-8 NET

Hypocrisy is just another word for lying. Lying always hurts our relationships with God and tears communities of faith apart. Peter calls this couple’s plot lying
to God. Such irony –- trying to lie to God from whom nothing is hidden! 

Are your Christian activities enhancing your visible dedication to God but leaving you empty? Are you engaging in spiritual exercises, serving others, teaching, music ministry, giving financially, being friendly, etc., secretly angling for others to praise your talent, intelligence, generosity, dedication and warm personal touch? Are you in a respected and needed ministry because the Holy Spirit continues to prompt you, or do you press on primarily because others are impressed with your talents or religious knowledge? 

It’s wise to periodically review your religious involvements and check your motivations. You might want to add a less visible niche area of service that seems of less value to others and see what happens. 


Note. To access scripture links that don’t appear in the email version, read the web version in your browser.

_____________________________________

Red Couch Theology Podcast

Sermon Conversations with Alex and Aaron

There’s only so much we can cover in a Sunday morning gathering!
Each week, you’re invited to tune into our LIVE podcast at 11 am on Thursdays – recorded (and sometimes prerecorded) for later, online viewing.

What can you expect? Pastors Alex, Aaron and the occasional guest, having a casual conversation diving deeper into ideas related to last Sunday’s teaching:


Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 6:16-18

(See also Isaiah 58)

Questions may be sent through
https://redcouchtheology.com/  

Blog sites:

Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCWnNSTN-6XA7oYy6TBfS0LAxqxPvxVjH

Apple Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guys-drinking-tea/id1616539767

Conspicuous Righteousness2024-03-10T14:51:52-06:00

God is Not a Vending Machine

by Grace Hunter


When you read the book of Job you encounter a common mindset: 

If bad things happen to me or my family, I must have broken God’s rules.
If I live by God’s rules, then good things will happen to me and my family. 

The problem with this philosophy is that it is simplistic, naïve and not a reality in Job’s life nor in mine, how about yours?

This week we are looking at fasting — both the right way and the wrong way. Isaiah said,

The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.”  Isaiah 29:13 NIV.

Jesus quotes this verse in Matthew 15:8-9 when he was talking to a group of Pharisees. He makes it clear that God is concerned about the heart,
not rule-following for rule’s sake.


So, let’s take a look at chapter
58 of Isaiah. Isaiah declared to Israel what God thinks of how they are currently fasting. Keep in mind Isaiah 29:13 as we look at this chapter. Find a translation you like and read chapter 58 of Isaiah. Did you notice the many “if,  then” statements? How does God describe their current mode of fasting; and what does He think of it? Did you notice what God’s idea of true fasting is? Did it include more than just denying oneself of food for a meal or for a day? If we behave as a righteous person does: then God will protect, provide, guide, strengthen, and restore. How does this chapter end? How can we find our joy in the Lord?

There is a lot in this chapter; if taken the wrong way, we can end up just like Job’s counselors — thinking that if I just know the right rules and follow them, then God is obligated to bless me, to do what I want. The thing is, God is not a vending machine. He desires our hearts, He desires relationship with us, He desires us to trust in Him, in His love, in His goodness, in His plan for us. We live in a broken world and we are all sinners. God’s plan for us may allow anxiety, disease, death of loved ones, loss of jobs, the birth of a brain injured child, and other heart aches. It certainly did for Job and for me and my family. But, if we deny ourselves in order to draw closer to God — to revere Him — God sees us. He sees our hearts. If we trust in Him, even when our personal circumstances don’t make sense to us, then we are acting righteously. Let’s strive to cultivate the heart God desires, and then we will be able to act as a righteous person everyday as God desires us to, regardless of our circumstances.

Note. To access scripture links that don’t appear in the email version, read the web version in your browser.

God is Not a Vending Machine2024-03-09T11:46:25-07:00

Fasting, Transformation and Justice 

Sherry Sommer

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:16-17 (NIV)

Jesus talks about fasting as he does about giving and praying. He says “when you…”  He could say “when you fast” to his audience because it was a normal discipline in the ancient Jewish world. It’s not clear that fasting is required for modern day followers of  Jesus, and fasting is foreign to many of us, including me.  We can make Jesus’  teaching on fasting relevant to our situation by interpreting it as reinforcement, not to make a show of religious practices. However, there is another way to unpack his teaching.

Even though fasting was a customary practice for Jews in Jesus’ time, they lacked a full  understanding of it.  Apparently, the prevailing norm was abstaining from food while making a dramatic show of piety.  If we look at the book of Isaiah, we can see that this was not a new problem for the Jews. In Isaiah, the prophet criticizes shallow and transactional interpretations of fasting that sounded like:  “God, we will fast and you will reward us. What? We have fasted…why aren’t you rewarding us?” Isaiah points out that the sacrifices the Jews of that time were making didn’t address their heart issues. They thought they could fast  while mistreating their workers and fighting. Isaiah makes it clear that God could not be manipulated into producing blessings. He wanted transformed hearts and a people who cared for others.  

The prophet proposes that his audience fast, not just from food, but from being self centered and self absorbed. He asks that people work toward justice in their communities and to refrain from being judgemental and aimless. Properly practiced, Isaiah says fasting is not about being self focused at all.  It’s about saying no to something that we normally rely on, in order to realign our values.  Jesus’ way is to remember to care not only for our own needs but for the needs of others. 


Application

I’ve  been trying intermittent fasting in this season — which is eating during an eight hour window. I’ve found that it has helped declutter my days — with less time spent thinking about, preparing, and cleaning up after meals! I’m also trying to compress my screen time. This frees up so much time and brain power when I stick with it! 

Today I was reminded of Revelation 3:20: 

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person,
and
they with me.

Perhaps if we take the time to fast from food or other things we normally rely on, we can be freed up to hear Jesus. We can be refreshed and transformed by sharing the meal he provides.  

Pray about what God might teach you about fasting during this season of Lent. 

“Shout it aloud, do not hold back.
    Raise your voice like a trumpet.
Declare to my people their rebellion
    and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.
For day after day they seek me out;
    they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
    and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
    and seem eager for God to come near them.
‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,
    ‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
    and you have not noticed?’

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
    and exploit all your workers.
Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
    and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
    and expect your voice to be heard on high.
Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
    only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
    and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
    a day acceptable to the LORD?”

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness] will go before you,
    and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
    you will cry for help, and he will say: ‘Here am I.'”

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
    with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
    and your night will become like the noonday.
The LORD will guide you always;
    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
    and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like a spring whose waters never fail.
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
    and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
    Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”

“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
    and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
    and the LORD’s holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
    and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
then you will find your joy in the LORD,
    and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land
    and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. Isaiah 58

Note. To access scripture links that don’t appear in the email version, read the web version in your browser.

Fasting, Transformation and Justice 2024-03-10T14:31:16-06:00

Scene or Seen – Sacrifice or Mercy

by Bruce Hanson


Fasting

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:16-18


While this week’s scripture is specifically about fasting, my job for the week is to step back and examine just how the passage above fits in with the entirety of Matthew Chapter 6. To do so, we need to back up and take a look at Matthew 6:1.

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” 

Jesus is attempting to turn around a world that is entirely saturated with legalisms. Consider the rich young man who approached Jesus with
the following question.

“Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life ?” Matthew 19:16


This was a world caught up in doing. What must I DO to receive eternal life? The moment it becomes all about us and the things we do, our world gravitates to one that is highly concerned with comparing ourselves to others. We must measure up. We want to look good, so we put on a show. Create a scene.
When we give bread to our needy neighbors, we do so with much pomp and circumstance. It’s not so much about them as about us. The same is true of prayer. Jesus warns of praying publicly in order to be seen. Using big words and long sentences. All about our heads. Not about our hearts. How do we look?
And this week, Jesus emphasizes the same perspective in regards to fasting. The purpose of fasting was/is to separate oneself from the things of the world
in order to draw closer to God. It is not about sacrifice. No tit for tat. That’s a head thing. It’s about mercy. That’s a heart thing. What is our purpose?

Let me finish by hearkening back to one of my favorite Old Testament verses.

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Jesse didn’t even consider David when he paraded his sons before Samuel, extolling their virtues and achievements. It was about what they’d done and
how they looked. God set both Jesse and Samuel straight. 

If our hearts are right, our actions will follow. And we will be seen by God. Seen and rewarded.


Note. To access scripture links that don’t appear in the email version, read the web version in your browser.

Scene or Seen – Sacrifice or Mercy2024-03-09T11:18:03-07:00

Red Couch Theology Podcast

Sermon Conversations with Alex and Aaron

There’s only so much we can cover in a Sunday morning gathering!
Each week, you’re invited to tune into our podcast at 11 am on Thursdays – recorded (and sometimes prerecorded) for later, online viewing.

What can you expect? Pastors Alex, Aaron and the occasional guest, having a casual conversation diving deeper into ideas related to last Sunday’s teaching.

Ask questions about the sermon series, Sermon on the Mount,
“Can’t Get No, S a t i s f a c t i o n?”
at https://redcouchtheology.com/ or
by texting 720-316-3893 prior to, or during the “LIVE” podcast.

Blog sites:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCWnNSTN-6XA7oYy6TBfS0LAxqxPvxVjH

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guys-drinking-tea/id1616539767

Red Couch Theology Podcast2023-10-22T14:32:55-06:00

Jesus: Lawgiver and Law Fullfiler

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17 NIV

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17 NIV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5 NIV

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 NIV

“Do not think that I came to do away with or undo the Law [of Moses] or the [writings of the] Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For I assure you and most solemnly say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke [of the pen] will pass from the Law until all things [which it foreshadows] are accomplished. Matthew 5:17-18

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who [so much as] looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye makes you stumble and leads you to sin, tear it out and throw it away [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you stumble and leads you to sin, cut it off and throw it away [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. Matthew 5:27-30

I can imagine that some of the people listening to Jesus on the mountain wondered how he had the right to expand on the commandments. Already he had added to “You shall not murder” by expanding it to include anger and contempt, via name calling (Matthew 5:22). And then he dares to “meddle” with adultery by adding “lust” to what men had to recognize as adultery in their hearts.

I am grateful that in our day, we have the privilege of moving around in the scriptures, both old and new testaments, to find what we need, as well as using other versions that add understanding to our study.

I am also grateful for the writers who have made an intensive study of the scriptures and that point out what I have not considered before. This book has been most helpful for me in this series: That You May Live: How the 10 Commandments Lead to Human Freedom by Darell Johnson. In it he points out that Jesus is also the Lawgiver who was with God when the commandments were given, so he knows what was intended for them from the beginning — which is how we are to relate first to God and then to each other as valued persons in community.

Jesus as the Lawgiver was restoring the re-humanizing process for people in that time that also continues throughout the whole New Testament.

I was reminded of a children’s carol written by Megan Kincheloe and published by Zondervan, that some of you reading this might remember. Each verse starts with,

“Oh, be careful little

vs. 1. …eyes what you see”;
vs. 2. …ears what you hear”;
vs. 3. …tongue what you say”;
vs. 4. …hands what you do”;
vs. 5. …feet where you go”.

The chorus is:

“For the Father up above, is looking down in love.
Oh, be careful little ______ what you see.”

As you continue with us to pray the Lord’s Prayer, ponder this little song as you pray, “…lead us not into temptation [testing]…”.

Jesus: Lawgiver and Law Fullfiler2023-10-22T14:19:01-06:00

Lust is Lazy & Short-term

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into hell. If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into hell.” Matthew 5:27-30 NET

The word desire (also translated as lust) that Jesus uses in this passage, is an intense longing, not just a passing glance. If these cravings persist, Jesus warns that this heart attitude has tangible, negative consequences, including the possibility of sliding into sexual relations with a person who is not a marriage partner.

Perhaps you’ve seen a billboard that flaunts a claim similar to the following: “Porn is cheaper than dating”. This sexual pleasure package implies that an instant, temporary, and relatively inexpensive option is able to provide the same emotional satisfaction as a loyal, long-lasting, human relationship which includes Biblical marriage. Lazy people consistently choose inferior but seemingly easy options.

What does scripture say about the lazy person’s destiny? Here’s a sample:

The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway. Proverbs 15:19 ESV

Let’s compare that porn billboard offer with a financial investment promising a return of 100% in two weeks without any risk to the investor. It’s not difficult for a discerning person to ascertain that both proposals are too good to be true.

The lure of receiving something incredibly valuable or exhilarating for very little effort is sneaky. Indulging desires for such sudden jackpots is guaranteed to corrupt hearts and minds. The person who gives in to the pleasures of sin for a season (Hebrews 11:24-26) also jeopardizes future rewards.

Read again what Jesus says about capitulating to lust in Matthew 5:30 (above). Do the consequences of lust really include hell? Jesus’ warning is dire regarding ungodly sexual glances, cravings that corrupt us. If in the short-term we fall into being lazy about sexual matters, we risk losing the good and truly satisfying experiences that God has designed for us.

Have you fallen for “cheap date” style schemes? It’s time to repent; (observe Jesus’ drastic language regarding offending eyes and hands above). Ask God to redirect you as you take the more difficult road of cultivating godly trust and intimacy in the marriage or relationships you already have or hope to have.

If you’re already following Jesus in this critical area of sex and marriage, what a blessing! You are experiencing human flourishing in the midst of a corrupt and perverse generation (Philippians 2:15-17).

Consider the impact of Matthew 5:27-30 on your life as you again make your way through the Lord’s Prayer.

Lust is Lazy & Short-term2023-10-22T13:27:23-06:00

Parenting 101

If you have been a parent, or are a young person not far from your childhood years, I have no doubt that you can well remember those times when your mom told you to clean your room, take out the trash, or a hundred other things to do. The response one almost always replied with was one of the following two:

“Just a sec.”

or

“In a minute.”

Which in neither case actually reflected your intentions.

While our world may have its misogynistic problems , it doesn’t hold a candle to the world that Jesus was born into. Women were property. They may have been held in lesser esteem than the family pet. If you grew tired of your wife, you just set her aside and got a new one. This was a way of thinking that had gone on for thousands of years. The men of the world would never have questioned it. Men’s eyes were always on the lookout for new possibilities. It was the norm. Solomon had 300 wives and 600 concubines.

Back to the home front. You may have routinely ignored your mom when she told you to do something, but when your mom shouted “STOP!!!!!!”, in THAT tone of voice, and with the glare of death you hoped never to hear or see again, you stopped!!!! Shaking in your boots! You knew that if there ever was a time to be obedient, this was it.

Jesus talks about gouging an eye out, or chopping off a hand. Does he really mean that? And of course He does not. The thing is, it wouldn’t fix the problem. Even if I had no eyes, hands, or legs, it wouldn’t prevent me from entertaining impure thoughts. They find their birth in my mind and my heart.

But Jesus’ use of that language was his way of emulating your mom’s STOP command. The men Jesus was addressing in the passage above were used to the same old same old. No one ever questioned it. They just did it. While Revelation’s “New Heaven and a New Earth” was about a future time for all of us believers, that Kingdom was starting here in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus was espousing an entirely new way of thinking. If you had been among those gathered on the Mount, you were likely looking around at others with a “What the Heck” look. “Gouging eyes?” I’m sure the same reaction was engendered when Jesus said this:

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.” John 6:56-57

Take this message far beyond the topic of adultery. Be introspective. Examine scripture. Examine yourself. Stop and consider.

And then smile when God emphatically tells you to stop.

He loves you!!!

Br Bruce Hanson

Parenting 1012023-10-21T20:06:23-06:00

Lust Dehumanizes

“You have heard that it was said, `Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27-28 NIV

Jesus first states the 7th commandment as something all his hearers know, then He elaborates on the heart issue. Adultery does not occur in a vacuum. It begins with thoughts, it begins with looks, it begins with attitudes – long before any action is taken.

For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world. I John 2:16 NIV

You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Numbers 15:39 NIV

These verses tell us where lust begins. Our eyes see something we desire, and we begin to crave that something. Lust usually involves desiring another person for one’s own sexual gratification. Lustful desires are always presented as sinful (Colossians 3:5), of the world (I John 2:16), or even equated with bestial instincts (II Peter 2:12-18).

A person who lusts after another, selfishly desires that person – in order to own or consume him or her, not for giving them love. Lust does not elevate or encourage. Instead it puts down, it dehumanizes, it devalues the other person as simply an object to possess.

Paul lists lust in Colossians 3:5 as a sin to be removed from a Christian’s life. Then Paul goes on to describe how a Christian can rid himself of sins like lust. Paul uses an analogy of taking off old clothes (sins) and putting on new ones (godly virtues and values). Colossians 3:1-4:6 gives many instructions on how to submit to the Holy Spirit and live a God honoring life.

Jesus deplores our sinful actions, likewise is burdened by and even saddened by our sinful thoughts and attitudes which invariably can lead to wrong doing. As you read and pray the Lord’s prayer, examine your thoughts and attitudes. When the Spirit reveals your sinful thoughts and attitudes toward another person, confess it, repent and receive God’s forgiveness.

Lust Dehumanizes2023-10-21T19:36:46-06:00
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