Two summers ago I taught a women’s bible study based on the book Every Woman’s Battle, by Shannon Ethridge. After one of the sessions, I received an email from a woman admitting that in her mind, she had been comparing her husband to other men. She acknowledged how this had created ruts of discontent, and even anger in her heart toward her husband, who knew nothing of her mental gymnastics. She admitted that she never realized how destructive it could be to allow her mind to compare. And she saw how she failed to concentrate on any of his positive qualities at all.
Was this woman committing an outward act of sin? No. She was the only one who knew what was happening in her own mind. And to recognize the admirable qualities in someone else is not usually sinful, but to her it had become sin. Her heart had become corrupted and polluted by disappointment and resentment, and a wedge of separation was quickly developing in her marriage … all without anyone knowing anything at all!
Matthew 5:29-30 (ESV) If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
Not one of us is without sin. And here, Jesus is commanding that if something is causing us to stumble–is ensnaring us or tripping us up, we are to get rid of it immediately, without delay! Because it is more expedient to eradicate even a good thing, if it is causing us to sin.
“If the most precious thing you have, in a sense, is the cause of your sin, get rid of it…however valuable a thing may be to you in and of itself, if it is going to trap you and cause you to stumble, get rid of it, throw it away. Such is Jesus’ way of emphasizing the importance of holiness, and the terrible danger which confronts us as the result of sin…it is not just a question of committing certain acts; it is a question of dealing with the pollution of sin in the heart…”
~D. Martyn Lloyd Jones
Whatever comes between us and God pollutes us, and must be set aside, no matter what it is. And that pollutant may be different for each person. Some people can watch certain TV shows, or read certain novels, and there is no problem at all. Whereas for others, it can become the cause of sin.
The goal of a holy life is to see sin for what it is and eradicate it from our lives.
“Our ambition should be to have a heart which never knows bitterness, envy, jealousy, hate or spite, but is ever full of love.”
~D. Martyn Lloyd Jones
And we do this by guarding our hearts.
By never “feeding” our flesh.
By avoiding the unique-to-us situations that trip us up,
And by being careful who we hang out with.
And above all, we must be gut-level honest with our own selves. Searching our own hearts to identify any thing that causes us to stumble.
And we can’t do this alone. We need the help of the Holy Spirit.
Philippians 2:12b-13 (ESV) …work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
He promises to be with us. To will and work in us His good pleasure if we ask Him to.
Because Jesus came and gave His very life that we would be His. He suffered and died for our sin. And holiness begins by seeing sin for what it really is.
True holiness is never concerned with self, but always concerned about pleasing and glorifying God.
And because of His great love we have received mercy, and such love really does demand our soul, our life, our all.
May that be what we give, because of what He gave for us.
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died; my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ, my God; all the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood. See, from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown. Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small; love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
Continuing on in memorizing the Sermon on the Mount, with Ann and this community. Join us?
This week on to Matthew 5:31-32 (ESV)…
Other posts in this series: ~Memorizing the Sermon on the Mount ~For When You Want to Know How to Really Teach {Week 1} ~For When You Need to Quit Performing to Earn God’s Love {Week 2} ~When You Long to be Satisfied and Supremely Happy {Week 3} ~For When Memorizing is Intimidating and Change is a Challenge {Week 4} ~For When You Don’t Fit in and You’re Not Feeling Accepted {Week 5} ~Because You Are Meant to BE the Flavor {Week 6} ~We ARE the Light of the World {Week 7} ~All Has Been Accomplished! The New Covenant Has Come {Week 8} ~For When You Think It’s Only About Following the Rules {Week 9} ~Because It’s All About the Illustrations & Their Principles {Week 10} ~For When You Encounter Prickly People {Week 11} ~What to Do When Someone is Upset With You {Week 12} ~Holiness is a Matter of the Heart {Week 13}{WEEK 15} Matthew 5:31-32 (ESV) “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. i w a s w d h w l h g h a c o d b i s t y t e w d h w e o t g o s i m h c a a w m a d w c a
*Linking with Women Living Well, Do Not Depart, Good Morning Girls, Denise in Bloom
“True holiness is never concerned with self, but always concerned about pleasing and glorifying God.”
Yes. I grew up in a legalistic church and essentially believed (although not overtly stated) that I was to be holy so I could be saved, which of course is totally backwards and impossible. The only good I can ever do now is because he is in me and because he is holy, not me.
Thanks for your insights, Jacque. Always helpful.
I so agree that our hearts must be searched and that we need God Himself to show us. Praying Psalms 139:23-24 opened my heart wide for God’s transformation – which He is faithfully continuing all the time. Thanks for your post that reminds us He is to be Lord of all we are and all we do.