Thursday, 28th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search
Breaking News:

Suffering and sickness in the Holy Bible – Part 17

By Emeritus Prof. Mercy Olumide
27 February 2022   |   3:56 am
Rather, it is a wrong thought or desire that is accompanied by the approval of one’s will. It is having an immoral desire that would seek fulfillment if the opportunity arose.

Emeritus Prof. Mercy Olumide

Reasons For Believers’ Sickness Cont’
Rather, it is a wrong thought or desire that is accompanied by the approval of one’s will. It is having an immoral desire that would seek fulfillment if the opportunity arose. The inner desire for illicit sexual pleasure, if contemplated and not resisted, is sin. (1) The Christian must be particularly careful to abstain from taking pleasure in scenes of immorality or nudity such as those shown in films, video, TV, books, magazines and on some internet sites (cf. 1Cor 6:15,18; Gal 5:19,21; Eph 5:5; Col 3:5; 2Tim 2:22; Tit 2:12; Heb 13:4; Jas 1:14; 1Pet 2:11; 2 Pet 3:3; 1Jn 2:16). (2) In the area of maintaining sexual purity, the woman as well as the man has a responsibility. The Christian woman must be careful not to dress in a way that attracts attention to her body, thereby creating temptation for men or encouraging lust. Dressing immodestly or sensually is associated with lust and therefore should be scrupulously avoided (1Tim 2:9; 1Pet 3:2-3).

(8) Due To Unconfessed Sin we “When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long; 4: for day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer. 5: I acknowledged my sin to you, and my iniquity I have not hidden, I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.” (Ps. 32:3-5).

To confess our sin is to agree with God, acknowledging that he is right to declare what we have done as sinful, and that we are wrong to desire or to do it. It is to affirm our intention of abandoning that sin in order to follow him more faithfully.

“When I kept silent, my bones grew old.” These verses describe the agony and penalty that concealed sin brings. When David hid his sin and did not acknowledge it to God, he lost what was most worthwhile in life — his health, peace of mind, happiness and favour with God. In its place, he experienced guilt and inner torment as God’s punishment (see Ps. 51:8,12),

“I acknowledged my sin” (v5) Acknowledging and confessing sin with an honest, sincere and repentant heart will always result in God’s gracious pardon, the removal of guilt and the gift of His abiding presence.

“Look on my affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins” (Psalm 25:18).

“There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin. 4For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. 5My wounds are foul and festering because of my foolishness,” (Ps. 38:3-8).

0 Comments