How can we guard our hearts against adultery in today's society? The Gravity of Adultery Job recognized the weight of unfaithfulness: • Job 31:11 — “For that would be a heinous crime, an iniquity to be judged.” • God calls adultery a crime, not a private misstep. • Proverbs 6:32 affirms, “But he who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.” • Hebrews 13:4 reminds that the Lord will judge “the sexually immoral and adulterers.” Seeing adultery as God sees it fuels holy caution. Guard the Eyes, Guard the Heart • Job 31:1 shows Job’s preventive strategy: a covenant with his eyes. • Matthew 5:28 warns that lustful looks equal heart-adultery. Practical steps: – Limit media that normalizes casual intimacy. – Bounce the eyes away from provocative images. – Choose entertainment filtered by Ephesians 5:3-4 (“not even a hint of sexual immorality”). Saturate the Mind with Scripture • Psalm 119:9-11 teaches that hidden Word repels sin. • Philippians 4:8 sets a thought standard: true, honorable, pure. Ways to stay filled: – Memorize verses that confront lust (1 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 5:16). – Replace tempting thoughts with recited truth. – Keep a Bible reading rhythm that feeds the soul before screens do. Delight in God’s Gift of Marriage • Proverbs 5:15-19 urges satisfaction “in the wife of your youth.” • Celebrating marital intimacy disarms counterfeit pleasures. Cultivate: – Regular, open communication with one’s spouse. – Shared prayer and worship that unite hearts. – Planned times of affection, making home the safest place for desire. Live Transparently with Fellow Believers • Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 praises the strength of two; one lifts the other. • James 5:16 commands confession and prayer for healing. Accountability looks like: – A same-gender friend who asks direct, loving check-ins. – Small-group fellowship where purity victories and struggles are shared. – Immediate confession when temptations surface, cutting them off early. Establish Wise Digital and Social Boundaries • Devices magnify hidden opportunities for sin. Helpful safeguards: – Install filters and share passwords. – Avoid private messaging that stirs emotional intimacy outside marriage. – Keep screens out of secluded places, especially late at night. – Let Philippians 4:8 guide scrolling and browsing choices. Walk Daily in the Spirit • Galatians 5:16 — “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Living by the Spirit includes: – Beginning each day yielding plans, desires, and eyes to the Lord. – Quick repentance; lingering guilt weakens resistance. – Trusting that God provides “the way of escape” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Summary Action Steps 1. Treat adultery as the grave sin God declares it to be. 2. Make a covenant with your eyes and enforce it with practical limits. 3. Feed heart and mind with Scripture before culture speaks. 4. Invest passionately in the marriage God has given. 5. Stand in honest accountability with trusted believers. 6. Guard every digital doorway; purity apps and shared access matter. 7. Depend moment by moment on the Holy Spirit, confident He empowers victory. |
    |