There is not a man (or woman!) in the world who has not been tempted by lust.
But we must hasten to add that temptation itself is not the same as sin; the Lord Jesus Christ was “in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin”(Heb. 4:15). Thus we learn that it is possible to feel the temptation to lust very severely, but if we say “No!” to it and if we do not give in to the temptation, it has not become sin. Thank God!
The sin itself begins in the heart, for Jesus said, “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matt. 5:28). Still, the sin is not in the temptation; the sin lies in the purpose already cherished, the choice, to do the deed when the opportunity arises.
Paul’s Book of Titus is one of the smallest in the Bible, yet it contains the message wherein is the power to overcome all temptation to lust:
(a) The salvation power does not lie in fear of being lost; that’s not how we overcome lust.
(b) “The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us ...” (2:11, 12, NIV).
(c) That “grace” of God is revealed, demonstrated, in the sacrifice of Jesus on His cross. The death that He died was not merely physical pain followed by a welcome weekend of sacked-out sleep; He died the different kind of death, the death that is enduring the curse of His Father on sin.
(d) He was “made to be sin for us, who knew no sin”(2 Cor. 5:21), the most horrible experience in the universe of God.
(e) The death that Jesus died is spoken of as “the second death” in three places: Revelation 2:11 and 20:6, 14). Again, the most horrible death imaginable, the hopeless one—God save us from it!
(f) There is no need for any of us to die that death, even if we are tempted severely by lust: Jesus has already died that death for us!
(g) We have all heard many times that “we are saved by faith.” But what is faith?
(h) The answer is clear and powerful: faith is a heart appreciation of the love (agape) of Christ as demonstrated in His sacrifice on His cross.
(i) You say your heart is cold?
(j) “Behold the Lamb of God” (John 1:29). Look, look, look.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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