Lust
Scripture:
Matthew 5:28
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Reflection:
Today I choose to fast from the sin of lust.
We typically think of lust in terms of sexual desire. And while sexual desire in and of itself is not sinful, like many other good things it can be easily disordered to lead us into sin.
Lust, like gluttony which we will talk about later, is an attachment to pleasures of the flesh. The difference is that while gluttony derives pleasure from food, lust derives pleasure at the expense of other people. Lust turns people into objects to be used for our own pleasure and gratification, effectively denying the image of God in them. And like many sins, lust begins in the mind long before it presents itself as an action. This is why Jesus can say in Matthew 5:28 that anyone who looks at another person with lust has already committed adultery. While lust may be one of the more awkward sins to talk about, it’s one that cannot be ignored if we are to dedicate our whole being - body, mind and spirit - to God.
Questions for Personal Reflection:
When am I most tempted to treat others as objects for pleasure rather than beings made in God’s image?
In what areas of my life am I more concerned about my own pleasure than the wellbeing of others?
Prayer:
Pray that God would open your heart and mind to better understand what lust looks like in your life and how to move forward from it. Share with God any times or areas of your life when you have treated people more like objects than human beings. Ask for forgiveness and guidance to move forward.
These devotions have been adapted from “Lenten Healing: 40 Days to Set You Free from Sin” by Ken Kniepmann.
