The 7^th Commandment

You shall not commit adultery.

Cheating destroys lives. It just does.

However, this doesn't mean that the person who committed it can't be redeemed nor that the relationship that's seemingly destroyed is destroyed forever.

But wouldn't it be easier to avoid disaster in the first place?

This is why Jesus goes beyond defining adultery as merely sleeping with another man or woman. He points to the internal problem itself: lust.

And lust is something we all know is not necessarily about other people. It's a depravity, a monster that demands to be fed.

This is probably why the word "addict" is often used to describe anyone who is sexually active beyond the norm. For them, it must seem almost impossible to break this devastating habit.

But is it?

For those of us who follow Jesus, no, it is not.

We know we have the opportunity to share and confess our sin, and with the guidance of God through wise brothers and sisters, the accountability to walk away from an "addiction" that can take a variety of forms (promiscuity, pornography, emotional cheating, etc.).

Let's keep in mind, however, that sin isn't sin until it's sin. Meaning? There will certainly be times when a wayward thought enters the mind that we're not even thinking. This is temptation, and it's not sinful as long as we commit the thought to Christ.

It's important to make that distinction because God doesn't want us to be living in shame. He wants us to allow Him to examine our hearts and leads us on a beautiful journey that shapes us more and more into the likeness of His Son.

So, if you've wrestled with adultery or sexual sin the past, know that you are not "dirty" or forever stamped with a scarlet letter.

Instead, you are dearly loved and worth living a life that honors your body and mind and glorifies our God.

Search me, God, and know my heart.

Have you struggled with adultery before? No shame if you have. Take some time to reflect on past instances of lust. Were these temptations? Were these sins on your part? If the latter, confess to God and ask for His forgiveness. Pray for guidance, and if necessary, seek out brothers and sisters you can trust for accountability. A program like Celebrate Recovery is also a wonderful option to start acquiring the tools to truly live free in Jesus.