I am not proud of my sin.

One of four times the Bible specifically says, “this is the will of God for you,” it goes on to say that we are to be sexually pure. Sexual impurity is described throughout the scriptures and suffice it to say that all of us are born with the natural inclination to fall short of the will of God in this area. In case you would believe yourself exempt; Jesus raised the bar significantly with a specific example regarding adultery. His teaching was that if we look at someone other than our spouse with lust in our hearts, we have committed adultery. (Side note: in a similar teaching, Jesus says that speaking in anger toward someone is the same as murder.)

I am guilty on both counts. Multiple counts of each, in fact. And I am not proud of that. In humility, I have confessed my sins, and because God’s mercies are new every morning, I have received His forgiveness and the power to be an overcomer. Thanks be to God that I am more pure and less angry today, but the battle against temptation continues.

It is important to distinguish between temptation and sin. Jesus himself has empathy for us because he faced temptation, but He is without sin. Temptation toward sexual impurity, in whatever form, is natural. We are encouraged by Jesus to “pray, that you may not enter into temptation.” Pray, that you may overcome the temptation and stay pure.

In the end, my own sinfulness allows me to have empathy for those who have their own specific sin issues. I do not judge you, but instead encourage you to recognize it, call it what it is, and engage in the battle to be an overcomer.

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8