When it comes to our sins, it has been said that our temptation is to minimize them by acting as if they are minimal and "not a big deal." In reality, every single sin we give in to is, indeed, “a big deal” and must be taken seriously. This includes lust. Lust is not a sin for us to minimize. We must understand the heartbreaking impact lust has and choose to turn away when we are tempted to give in to lust.
Joseph was a man who understood the severity of sin, especially lust. He found himself in quite a difficult situation in Genesis 39. He had been sold into slavery to Potiphar, "an Egyptian officer" (verse 1). Joseph served well and earned Potiphar's favor. Unfortunately, Joseph also got the attention of the wife of Potiphar, who looked at him lustfully (verse 7). She said to him, "Come and sleep with me" (verse 7). He immediately refused and said, “My master trusts me with everything in his entire house” (verse 8). Joseph understood the severity of giving in to lust. He took his own integrity seriously. He knew that Potiphar trusted him greatly, and he would not do anything to change that.
Like Joseph, we must take temptation and sin seriously. After all, Romans 6:23 tells us that "the wages of sin is death.” Sin leads to death. That is not, however, the end of the story! In His grace, He sent Jesus to rescue us from our sins. As a result, Paul taught, "The free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). When we turn to Christ, we find forgiveness and hope.
Commit today to take all sin, especially the sin of lust, seriously. If you have been struggling with this sin, confess it to God today. Tell Him you are sorry for your sin that has broken His heart, and ask Him for help as you take steps to let go of that sin. Reach out for help from fellow Christ-followers, too. Confess your sin to your small group leader and ask for help walking forward, or call or text one of our pastors on staff at 505-922-9200. You are not alone in this struggle. If lust is not a current sin struggle, ask God to guard your heart against the temptation to lust and to help you live a life that honors Him.
1Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.
12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.
15 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. 17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. 18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.
19 Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.
20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. 21 And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. 22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
