Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 May 25

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

(Matthew 5:27-30)

Today’s Morsel: One of the most important virtues that Christians should quickly develop once they are saved is that of self-control.  Self-control is no more than controlling one’s own self.  It’s taking total control for everything that a person does. Solomon states, “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls” (Proverbs 25:28).  If you can’t control you, you will destroy you. In His teachings on the Sermon on the Mount,  Jesus stated, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”  In other words, the law was that one must not commit adultery, which to many was self-explanatory.  However, Jesus took it a step further.  He told them that if they even looked at a woman to lust after her in their hearts, they had committed adultery.  Jesus wanted them to know, as Solomon wrote, that as a man thinketh in his heart so is he (Proverbs 23:7).  Therefore, if one was lusting after a woman, it would get into his heart and that would be who he would become, as lusts often time cause wrong motives and actions.  Without self-control, we will be drawn away when the temptation comes.  

Sing:  Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of this earth will go strangely dim; in the light of His glory and grace.

Thought For Today:  Keep yourself pure.