Matthew 5:27-28 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Sex is everywhere. A crass statement I know, and yet so true. The temptations of the flesh surround us. We can not even say that this is the worst it has ever been before! Yet our culture is more and more sexualized. I can not walk anywhere without seeing the evidence of it, this even includes church! There is such a prevalent atmosphere of lust and self gratification or fleshly appeasement (and a stated acceptance thereof) that it is okay for people to feel free discussing this! I hear at work guys telling what they did with their wife/girlfriends/both and offering advice to other co-workers to increase the “love and romance” in their lives. An insidious twist to God's gift to us of marriage and marital relations slowly turns us away from a perspective on looking out and helping out others first, to looking out for ourselves. When I hear Christian ladies say that they are unhappy with their husbands and are moving out because “its not working for me” and dating couples breaking up due to one's opinion that “I am not getting what I should out of this relationship” is proof of this! Look at the relationships that stay together, are they not preeminently based on something besides the self? Are they not based off a desire to help the other? Yet the world tells us differently.

Paul states in Galatians that “the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality...” And the world has proven this true. Everywhere are posters, advertisements, and entertainment that are based or glorify the flesh and the innate desire for intimacy. This surrounding worldly environment will slowly draw us away from our Saviour! This encompassing fleshly climate turns us towards fleshly thoughts, and we know that thoughts are just as sinful and condemning as actions! We need to therefore have our minds set on God as much as we are able and to accept the standard given in Romans 8:5 "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.”

We are called to control our bodies and minds, even flee as far as we can and are able (1 Corinthians 6:18-20, Colossians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, 2 Timothy 2:22) but because we are sinful fallen people, we often times fall short and this is when we need the help of other believers; or if we see other believers who have been overcome by their earthly desires we need to help them as spoken of in Galatians 6:1-2 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

God's grace to us abounds, and although we fail so miserably at all we are called to do, He is there to offer a helping hand that we may stand up and continue trying our best to walk the narrow road of the redeemed life! Let us make every effort through every temptation and test of our faith and our spiritual endurance to live as best we can for Christ and to help those around us to do the same.

Help me then in every tribulation
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
Ever to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.