Tag: Martin Luther

Why Guarding Your Eyes Is Guarding Your Life – Luke 11:29-54

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From my reading in Luke 11:29-54 in the One Year New Testament.

Eye Sores

In our culture, we have images and messages constantly thrown at us through billboards, advertisements, movies, tv shows and websites. If we are not careful to guard our eyes, we can fall prey to temptation and it can start affecting our souls. Here’s what Jesus said about the issue.

“Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is bad, your body is filled with darkness.” Luke 11:34

What you see really does affect you. Jesus is teaching that if we let something into our eyes and into our minds, it has the power to corrupt our souls.

Eye Guards 

Unfortunately, in our culture it is impossible to stay completely isolated from unwanted images or sights. But we can create boundaries to help ourselves avoid them as well as develop habits for when we do see unwanted garbage. My favorite quote on related to this issue is by Martin Luther,

“You can’t stop the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.” – Martin Luther

We all struggle with the problem of looking at what we shouldn’t. Here’s what Jesus says for us to do.

“Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.” Luke 11:35–36

I think it is easy to get jaded with the constant barrage of negative images streaming in front of our eyes these days. It can be hard to know if we are being negatively effected by them.

Personally, I want to protect myself from unnecessary temptations. I want to be a person of integrity that is filled with light through and through.

Jesus said that if we are filled with light, our whole life will be radiant. What a great testimony we will be to the world, radiating God’s light everywhere we go! What are some ways to guard your eyes?

Maybe You Should Try..?

  • Eliminating a questionable TV show you may enjoy.
  • Not going to certain websites that have inappropriate ads.
  • Avoiding certain potentially tempting Facebook or instagram pictures.
  • Not going to movies unless you check a good Christian review first.
  • Avoiding actual places where you will be over-exposed to temptations.

 

Whatever you have to do, it will be worth it. 

 When you do mess up, confess it to God and allow God to forgive you!

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:9

If you keep your eyes from evil, they will be filled with light and your life will radiate for the world to see!

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Winning the War Against Lust – Matt 5:27-48

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Reflection from my reading in Matt 5:27-48 the One Year Bible New Testament. 

In this passage, Jesus touched on one of the most common human sins:

 “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  Matthew 5:27–28 

Jesus shows us that even looking at a woman and thinking lustful thoughts is a sin. Simply noticing that someone is attractive is not a sin. My favorite quote related to this is attributed to Martin Luther,

 “You can’t keep a bird from flying over your head, but you can keep it from building a nest in your hair.”

Get Radical

Jesus tells us to take radical steps toward eliminating temptation.

“So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.”  Matthew 5:29–30 

Jesus was not actually promoting amputation, because your hands or eyes are not what was causes the sin. The HEART is. Yesterday, I heard Rick Warren teach three ways to avoid temptation that are very applicable to this topic.

Avoid

The best way to win the lust battle is to avoid temptation.

  •  Media – Scandalous movies, TV Shows, internet sites, and even that friend who posts bathing suit selfies on Facebook & Instagram are to be avoided.
  •  Tempting People – Most of us have certain people that tempt us more than others. In some situations you still have to interact with these people but don’t make them your best friends or “ministry projects”.  It is better to let someone else do that.
  •  Tempting Environments – Avoid environments where you know it is going to be hard not to see things that will tempt you. If you have a porography problem, I recommend don’t get on the computer or your phone when you are alone in your room.  Use that stuff only when others are present.

Refocus, Don’t Resist

Don’t think of a purple elephant. How did you do? If you are in a tempting situation, it’s not helpful to focus on fighting the temptation.

Instead do something/ANYTHING else that will get your attention! Quoting scripture is very helpful. Getting up and going outside or into another room can also be helpful.

 When it comes to lust, Flight is better than Fight. Make like Joseph when Potiphar’s wife came after him and RUN!

 “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.”  2 Timothy 2:22 

 Accountability

Run, but don’t run alone.  We are to enlist a running buddy. Find someone of the same gender to help you in the battle. Find someone who will pray for you, give you grace and still be firm. Get some accountability software for your computer if you need it.

I’ve Got Some Bad News and Some Good News

The bad news is that you won’t be perfect.  At the end of this passage Jesus said,

 “But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”  Matthew 5:48 

The good news is that Jesus lived a perfect life for you. He died in your place, and if you receive him as Savior and Lord, he will forgive all of your sins, INCLUDING LUST. Jesus was perfect so we don’t have to be. As we pursue purity in this area, remember that there is grace for all of us who struggle with this issue.

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