From a distance, David saw the beautiful Bathsheba bathing. Instead of looking away, he looked lustfully at her (2 Sm 11:2). This led to adultery, murder, and the death of an innocent child. If David had not repented after being confronted by Nathan (2 Sm 12:7ff), his lustful looks could have resulted in the destruction of the nation.
When Jesus tells us to gouge out our eye rather than look lustfully, He's doing us a favor (Mt 5:28-29). He's sparing us not only the eternal pains of hell, but also terrible destruction in this life. It doesn't seem that serious at first. Is looking at a suggestive scene or a half-clothed woman that bad? God's Word says: "Once passion has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin reaches maturity it begets death" (Jas 1:15). "As for lewd conduct or promiscuousness or lust of any sort, let them not even be mentioned among you; your holiness forbids this" (Eph 5:3). "Make no mistake about this: no fornicator, no unclean or lustful person – in effect an idolater – has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God" (Eph 5:5).
"Let no one deceive you with worthless arguments. These are sins that bring God's wrath down on the disobedient; therefore have nothing to do with them" (Eph 5:6-7). "Whoever rejects these instructions rejects not man, but God Who sends His Holy Spirit upon you" (1 Thes 4:8).
| PRAYER: | Jesus, I accept You as Lord of my eyes, feelings, hormones, and sexuality. |
| PROMISE: | "Who can this be that the wind and the sea obey Him?" —Mk 4:41 |
| PRAISE: | The death of St. Angela's older sister prompted her to pray for her sister's soul and led Angela to consecrate her life to God's service. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College