Turning
from Lust to Love Today's
Three-minute Bible Study Introduction:
Take a moment to read the verses listed below
and then answer the questions at the end. Passage:
James
1:19-27* 20. for the anger of man does not achieve the
righteousness of God. 21. Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all
that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the
word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not
merely hearers who delude themselves. 23. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a
doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face
in a mirror; 24. for once he has looked at himself and gone
away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person
he was. 25. But one who looks intently at the perfect law,
the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having
become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this
man shall be blessed in what he does. 26. If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and
yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own
heart, this man's religion is worthless. 27. This is pure and undefiled religion in the
sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and
widows in their distress, and to keep oneself
unstained by the world. Questions A passage that began with lust (verse 14) ends with
love (verse 27). In verse 27, James identifies two things that are
very precious in the sight of God. What are they? 2. Why do you think James links these two items? In
other words, what relationship does an act of
unselfish love toward someone in need have to keeping
oneself unstained by the world's polluting
influence? Thought for the
day
Print,
Study and Apply
Title: Turning from Lust to Love
Keywords: "James 1"
"lust"
Welcome
to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand
strong in the face of sexual temptation.
19. This you know, my beloved brethren. But
let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow
to anger;
In this passage, James exhorts us to
self-control (verses 19-20), to purity (verse 21), to
action (verses 22-25) and to "pure and undefiled
religion" (verses 26-27).
1.
It is clear that God is interested in our
purity. Besides giving exhortations to purity (which
are helpful by themselves), Scripture gives us
practical "how-to's." James 1:27 indicates that a
drain plug to our lust is sacrificial love. Next time
you are tempted to involve yourself with an Internet
site that does not promote purity (a pornographic
site), remember what is precious in the sight of God.
Rather than follow your urge to view pornography, get
up from the computer, and seek out someone to serve.
Let love replace lust.
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*"Scripture
taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, ©
Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968,
1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by
permission."