“It happened, late one afternoon…” 2 Samuel 11:2
…and the rest is history…
It was just a normal afternoon, until David crossed the line…
He was laying on the couch…
He was minding his own business…
He was innocent at the time…
Then the beauty caught his glance…
Still innocent…
But the glance became a passion…
What started as an innocent glance…became an obsession….
David used his power and the situation as an opportunity to gratify his desires…
It was all downhill from there…
Next came adultery…and lies…and murder…and death…and family strife…and…
What can we learn from David’s failure?
You can’t stop yourself from being tempted, but you can stop yourself from allowing temptation to control your life….
Before the glance becomes your downfall….
Guard your heart and mind…
Be careful little eyes what you see….
Have you been allowing little temptations to take control of your heart and life?
It amazes me how our hearts and minds gravitate toward lustful thoughts when we let our eyes go unchecked. It is like our eyes are the catalyst to our imagination, whether beneficial or unbeneficial. The "eye bounce" is a great tool in this struggle; only we must be purposeful not to let our eyes bounce back to what they first turned away from.
I agree. We were talking about this issue in our small group this week. Its especially true for men, and I'm not sure women fully understand how we are wired. We are visually triggered. I am accused of being a pervert or thug for addressing it at times…but hopefully more men will be honest with how we are made and not let me stand alone! Thanks!
Good catch! I think you are on to something!
I always wondered if this story had something to say about spring fever: "In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war…".
David got spring fever.
If you missed the scripture post at the beginning, you would think this was describing something out of a local newspaper. That should be an indication of just how long mankind has dealt w/ a sinful nature. Which should dispell the lies that satan tells us…."no one will know", "everybody's doing it", "casual sex b/t friends is acceptable", etc. I have been divorced/single 16 yrs. & believe in abstinence until marriage. I can't of myself fulfil this quest, but being a leader to many, accountable to outstanding men/women, & most of all, especially my kids, keep me focused. What a gift to present to a potential mate.
Thank you Ron!
You are right. Stay faithful! God will reward you!
I think the greatest danger would be not to realize who we really are.
Amen Ron. You are so right, especially about men and lusting. I consider myself a good Christian man. I work out at the local Y and there are many women in the exercise area. Most are dressed "modestly", but some are not and spending 30-40 minutes on the treadmill right behind a very attractive woman can be a temptation. Although my wife and I are having some problems at the moment, I have vowed to keep myself pure for her and make it my duty to not let my eye rest on any of these women. It's some times a difficult task, but truly my wife is the only woman that I want.
Ron, thank you for this. Too often we take for granted that our sin cannot take over when in fact it can. I once had a former boss tell me his wife didn't mind if he looked at the menu as long as he didn't order anything. I found this absolutely absurd. How disrespectful…to both of them! I do mind. And my husband minds. I have no desire for anyone but my husband. I can say this with confidence because 1. it's true and 2. lust is not a sin a struggle with…I have others. This particular subject has been on my mind and I had planned to blog about it later today. Guard your heart my friends. Satan knows what you like and will dangle it in front of those "little eyes". Praying for those with this struggle.
Be sure to read the comment I left for Mason…it applies here too. Thanks for standing strong!
I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl. Job 31:1
Good add. Thanks!
Thanks Dusty. Very thankful for grace!
Yes. Thank you for this admonition.
Our battle again sin is raging minute to minute. The little sins give Satan a foothold in our lives that can bring us tumbling down. We need to identify the sins that do make it past our defenses, big or small, and repent.
Luke 15:10 (NIV) "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."