Tuesday October 4, 2022

Today is Tuesday, October 4 and we are praying through the teachings of Jesus found in the fifth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel.

New every morning is Your love, great God of light, and all day long You are working for good in the world. Stir up in me the desire to serve You, to live peacefully with my neighbors, and devote this day to Your Son, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen. (Presbyterian Worshipbook, adapted)

Pause and Pray

Here I am, Lord Jesus, I sit at Your feet to learn God’s kingdom ways. I know You are always working for good in my life. You want the best for me and the best for the people I love. Open the scriptures and teach me how to find life, joy and peace each day. Amen.

Psalm 51 was written by David after the prophet Nathan confronted him for committing adultery with Bathsheba.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:1-3,10

Pause and Pray

Relationships matter and God is concerned about all of my relationships. Jesus’ teachings are meant to preserve and protect the blessings of family and community. Continuing from yesterday, Jesus once again takes the Old Testament commandment to an entirely new level. Not only is murder forbidden, so is anger. Not only is adultery forbidden, so is lust. Anger leads to verbal abuse, violence and murder. Wrongful physical desire leads to sexual misconduct, promiscuity, infidelity, adultery, heart break and divorce. Both anger and lust cause great harm to marriages, families, relationships and society.

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. If your right eye causes you to stumble, 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 right hand causes you to stumble, 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 go into hell. It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Matthew 5:27-32

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches His followers to keep watch over the mind and heart because that is where every harmful, sinful action originates. The believer must be aware, keep watch and constantly guard the mind and heart. If people observed Jesus’ warnings against anger and wrongful physical desire many of societal ills would decline or altogether disappear – domestic violence, child abuse, violent crime, murder, pornography, prostitution, sexual abuse, assault, rape, infidelity, adultery, broken marriages and divorce rates. Sin and evil take root in the mind and then turn into a desire of the heart. Jesus says that is when sin has already happened.

Ask: When have I recognized evil intentions in mind or heart before they led to sinful actions? When have I been harmed by the evil intentions of others?

Pause and Pray

Holy Lord Jesus, teach me to be pure in heart and have the best intentions. Examine me and reveal the places where I need You to cleanse my soul. Reveal what my right eye sees or my right hand touches before they cause me to stumble. Protect me and my family from any harm or division the enemy threatens and prevent evil from harming my relationships. Heal any hurts from the past and prevent future brokenness. I read Matthew again, listening for the message You have for me today.

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. If your right eye causes you to stumble, 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 right hand causes you to stumble, 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 go into hell. It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Matthew 5:27-32

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

Jesus is my teacher and the Holy Spirit is my guide. I consider what God might want to reveal to me about my habits and desires. Whatever emotions the Holy Spirit is stirring in my soul – I know I can trust God to give me the grace I need to respond in the way He is leading. God wants me to enjoy blessings of joy and peace in my marriage, my family and my relationships. God knows about the high incidence of sexual brokenness in modern day society and the devastating harm it causes the soul. God wants to bring forgiveness, strength, healing, wholeness, reconciliation and peace to me and/or to someone I love. All I need is to ask God to do so.

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus Christ, I invite you into the deep recesses of my heart. There is no part of my life that is hidden from you. You know the brokenness of the past, the temptations of the present and the possibilities of the future. I give myself completely to You and trust You to lead me in the way I should go. Grant me whatever I need today – whether it is forgiveness, strength, hope, healing or repair. Amen.

For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person. Matthew 15:19-20a

I leave this time of prayer acknowledging I live in a fractured world that causes harm. I go to bind up the broken hearted and comfort those who suffer.

Amen