TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
You have heard that it was said, “You shall 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
Read: Matthew 5:27-30
Listen: Matthew 5
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Jesus’s teaching in The Sermon on the Mount is about what life in God’s kingdom is like. Last week we saw Jesus tell his audience to rethink what they had been taught about murder. Jesus teaches them anger is the root of the fruit of murder and that life in his kingdom requires a re-imagination of everything. Wrapping their minds around this new understanding of anger, Jesus moves quickly to lust. Jesus says that God doesn’t care just about outward actions but the inward condition of their hearts and minds.
Jesus isn’t seeking people who simply obey the rules. He’s explaining that a relationship with God affects our relationships with other people. It’s relationally-driven, not rules-driven. Life in his kingdom is not just how to behave—it’s how to connect with others in a God-honoring way.
This teaching is for us today too. It is for couples married for decades, divorcees, newly married, engaged, dating or single. His call to re-imagine sexual fidelity is for us all whether we’re young, old or in-between.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Spend time in prayer asking God to help you re-imagine your life in this area. What do you need to RE:THINK? Ask him to change your heart and mind with a prayer like this. “Father, I recognize I need your help to rethink the area of lust. I know my thoughts, feelings and actions are not what you want. Help me to make the changes I need to make. Amen.” Also, make sure you click on this BONUS CONTENT FOR MARRIAGE video and resources from Pastor Manion.
NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN
Join us this year as we read through the New Testament.
Today’s reading is Acts 27.
