A Commandment Broken
Several weeks ago I was having a conversation with a friend following our worship service. My friend was commenting on the part of the service where we go over a few catechism questions. The month of May was focused on questions that discuss the seventh commandment “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” My friend was reflecting how easy it is to quickly dismiss this commandment confident in her faithfulness to her husband but then the Lord knowing our sinful ways takes it further by clarifying in Matthew 5:28 that even if we look on another person other than our spouse with lustful intent we are guilty. This alone should be enough to put our prideful attitude in check but I am afraid we still dismiss this commandment too quickly after a trifle, “”Lord forgive me.”
I believe this commandment goes much deeper. You see, this is not just about an action but is also a matter of our heart attitude. As a woman saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ I am part of the bride of Christ (His church) and He alone is our Bridegroom. Looking at this commandment from this perspective reveals my true heart attitude as an adulteress. Oh my heart aches with the thought of how often I tarnish my relationship with my Bridegroom, my Saviour with prideful, unsubmissive, unholy, selfish thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions.
We have absolutely nothing to boast about. Every last one of us is guilty of breaking this commandment even our children young or old, married or single. The Lord has humbled me to the core with these thoughts.
Scriptures for reflection:
He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. Proverbs 6:32
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners and purify your hearts, you double minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you. James 4:4-10
Love in Christ,
~Donna~
Filed under: Christian Living, Scripture on June 30th, 2009
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