Say What?

 

 QUOTATION

 

“First of all, I do not believe the thought initiating lust is a sin until acted upon.”

 

 

Barry Denzil Haney

 

SCRIPTURE

 

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

 

James 1:14-15

 

 

REFLECTION

 

Say what! I can think deplorable things and I have not sinned? 

 

Not exactly true. A fine line exists between thoughts and actual sin. A thought about lust is a temptation by Satan to follow him, to fall prey to his trap to drag you to hell with him. We will all have temptation. Remember, even Jesus was tempted during his time here on Earth. However, Jesus rebuked Satan’s temptation.

 

The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 this:

 

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

 

I believe the Holy Spirit is telling me, although the initial thought or temptation to do something displeasing to God is not a sin, it does become a sin when acted upon or when we dwell on the thought or temptation.

 

Look at Jesus’ teaching concerning the matter of lust, found in Matthew5:27-28:

 

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”

 

The Greek word for “looketh” in this passage is a present particle verb, which refers to continuous action. Therefore, it appears Jesus was describing a situation where a man repeatedly looks at a woman, lusting or thinking about having a sexual relationship with her.

 

 The bottom line is we should do as James 4:7 tells us to do, submit ourselves to the Lord and flee from Satan, when temptation first rears its ugly head!

 

 

PRAYER

 

Our Heavenly Father,

 

Thanks you for not allowing me to be tempted above 

what I am able to handle! Thanks you for providing me 

a way to escape the temptation Satan throws my way! 

Thank you for the full Armor of God you give me to 

protect me as I navigate my rocky journey to salvation!

 

During the coming day, help me to remain focused on 

Jesus! Help me become a beacon of light to the unsaved, 

providing a chink in Satan’s deception, the deception preventing

the unsaved from spending an eternity with You in Heaven!

 

We ask all this in the glorious name of Jesus,

 

Amen!

 

SONG OF WORSHIP

 

Redeemed – Big Daddy Weave

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzGAYNKDyIU

 

God Bless You,

Barry