First Things
Today's Three-minute Bible Study
Print, Study and Apply
Title: First Things------------------------------ Date: 3/23/2002
Keywords:
"relationship" "religion"
Welcome
to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual
temptation.
Passage: Matthew 23:23-24*
23. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices — mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law — justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
24. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel."
Questions
1. What is Jesus' point?
2. How can his message help you avoid Web porn?
Practical help
Believers say that Christianity is a relationship, not a religion. This passage supports that idea. Jesus faults the Pharisees for dwelling on appearances rather than on reality. The rules are not as important as the Ruler.
But how often do we make the same mistake with Web porn? Do we crow about avoiding certain sites but still harbor lustful fantasies? After all, the point of shunning porn is to cut off another avenue for sexual temptation. If we close off one floodgate and leave others open, we are no better off than before.
The solution: common sense. Pay attention to your intake of Web porn, but broaden your focus to include the deeper issue of lustful fantasy. Otherwise, you'll strain out a site to swallow a habit.
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*Scriptures are from The Holy Bible: New International Version © Copyright 1973,
1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved.