Day 35 "Captive thoughts will soon die and become food for righteous living.”

Day 35

Matthew 5:27-28 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

According to the law, you were guilty of sin only when you had actually committed the unlawful or sinful act. What Jesus is saying here is that your heart is the place where sin begins, and from there it enters the mind. By saying that sin begins and ends in the heart, Jesus is challenging men in a way that they have yet to be challenged. Up until now, what went on in the mind was OK as long as you didn’t go any further. The reality is, however, no matter what deeds I conceive in my heart, whether I act them out or not, in the eyes of God I have done them!

For example, when men or women say that pornography does not hurt anyone, they are deceiving themselves. When we look upon the body of another person or watch sex acts, there is truly only one purpose–physical gratification. By these words in this passage, Jesus is telling us as clearly as possible that things like pornography are nothing short of sin. Whether you are single or a married couple, when pornography is viewed, you are committing adultery.

Another example is desiring the things that others have, or covetousness. If I conspire in my mind to take from someone else what he has in order to satisfy my desires, then, once again, I have committed the offense.

Yes, there are many examples that any one of us could name where the things we conspire in our heart goes against the principles of God. Therefore, the control of the mind, the taking of thoughts captive (2 Cor. 10:5), is completely and absolutely necessary for the believer. When thoughts begin to grow in our hearts that are contrary to God, the best response is to begin reading the word or singing praises. The worst thing we can do is begin to fantasize or act out those thoughts. This captivity of the heart is absolutely a necessary part of every believer’s life, and we would all do well to practice it, after all, practice does lead to perfection.

Daily Prayer: Father, I ask that You would give me the strength and remembrance to take captive those thoughts that would lead me to sin. May you reveal the scheming of the enemy before I fall into temptation of them? In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“Captive thoughts will soon die and become food for righteous living.”

Gene Burroughs, Servant