-- OOPS!!! -- Saturday, 7/23/11 -- THOUGHTS VS ACTIONS -- Matthew 5:21-22; 27-28
J.R. & Bonnie Ricks
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Dear Friends,
First – please forgive that first devotional I sent just now… I just realized I somehow managed to resend Wednesday’s devotional! Brain skid is my only excuse! I’m trying again- with the RIGHT devotional this time! J
Thank you so much for your many, many letters of encouragement and promises of prayer since we sent out that urgent prayer request last Monday. There were so many, there is no possible way for us to answer them all, so please accept this as your personal thank you. We had not asked for prayer from you earlier, even though all these things began happening on June 14th. Already, we’re seeing the results of your prayers. We’ve had several burdens lifted, and several situations that we thought were going in a negative way have completely turned around.
In response to the two questions asked by almost everyone… (1) Yes, there has been some serious financial impact, but the greater impact has been the emotional stress an accumulation of almost daily events for over a month has brought on. Any one of these events would have been more than enough for anyone to have to handle. And (2) no, as far as we know, there is nothing we could have done to prevent any of it.
We were reminded of the incident recorded in Luke 22:31-32 when Jesus said, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” It appears that we’ve been the subject of some “sifting” this past month. We know this only serves to make us stronger and will make us better able to help others when they find themselves in a similar situation. And we know that’s a good thing!
Again, thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray for a hedge of protection around us, our family and our friends. Even though we’re weary, scripture tells us that when we are weak, He is strong.
God bless you all,
J.R. & Bonnie
THOUGHTS VS ACTIONS -- Matthew 5:21-22; 27-28
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.” Matthew 5:21-22
"You have heard that it was said, 'Do 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
Okay, so if I think it in my mind, I've already committed the sin in my heart. If I've gone that far, why not go ahead and commit the act? I'm guilty of the sin already, aren't I? Why stop now?
There are several reasons to stop now. Thinking a sinful thought - dwelling on anger… having sexual fantasies - is bad. Going ahead with the act, however, has several consequences that wouldn't occur if we stop with the thought.
First of all, going ahead with the act causes us to excuse the sin rather than stop the sin. It's an act of throwing up our hands and saying, "What the heck? I'm already guilty. I might as well enjoy it!"
Second, acting on the sin destroys relationships. If you murder someone, that not only destroys your relationship with that person, but also with others who were close to either you or your victim. If you sleep with someone to whom you're not married, it destroys the sanctity of that relationship, making it dirty and cheap when it could have been wonderful. If you're married and mess around outside your marriage, you destroy your marriage.
Third, acting on sinful thoughts is deliberate disobedience to God. By carrying out a fantasy, you are thumbing your nose at God and saying, "I really don't care what you think, Lord, I'm going to do it anyway!"
And fourth, acting out a sinful thought brings another person into the sinful act - either as a victim, in the case of murder, or as a participant in the sexual act. In all four of these consequences, sinful desires result in sinful action which turns you away from God.
Are you worried about sinful thoughts? My grandfather used to say, "You can't stop a bird from landing on your head, but you can keep him from building a nest!" Don't feel guilty if a sinful thought pops into your mind. Instead, control it. Get rid of it. Repent of it. Don't harbor it. Don't dwell on it. Don't let anything - either thought or action - come between you and Jesus.
All Bible quotes contained in these devotionals are from the New International Version 1984 (NIV1984), unless otherwise specified.
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