August 3, 2024 - Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭27‬-‭30

“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. 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. 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 5:27-30 NLT

Jesus, you have taught us that following your laws isn’t about just doing or not doing what the law says, it is a matter of the heart. When we see each other, we only see the actions that are happening, but you see the heart. You know what is going on inside of us. If we are thinking or yearning to do something on the inside, even if our actions don’t go there on the outside, it is like we have committed the actual sin. It is a matter of the heart.

Lord, help us take account of our heart. What are we allowing to take root there? Are we allowing lust or another sin to fester there? Help us to take that very seriously and be willing to uproot anything that we find there that doesn’t line up with what is pleasing to you. Help us be willing to put safeguards in place or get rid of whatever we need to get rid of in our lives to help eliminate the things that draws us towards sin or causes us to walk in sin, not just outwardly, but inwardly as well. Purify us and make everything about us pleasing to you.

In Jesus name, amen.