What to Read When…You Struggle With Lust

Matthew 5:27-30 –“You have heard that it was said, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ 
Mat 5:28  But I say to you, anyone who stares at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 

  So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your body parts than to have your whole body thrown into hell. 

  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you. It is better for you to lose one of your body parts than to have your whole body go into hell.” 

Romans 7:7-12 –What should we say, then? Is the Law sinful? Of course not! In fact, I wouldn’t have become aware of sin if it had not been for the Law. I wouldn’t have known what it means to covet if the Law had not said, “You must not covet.” 

  But sin seized the opportunity provided by this commandment and produced in me all kinds of sinful desires, since apart from the Law, sin is dead. At one time I was alive without any connection to the Law. But when the rule was revealed, sin sprang to life, and I died. I found that the very rule that was intended to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing the opportunity provided by the rule, deceived me and used it to kill me. So then, the Law itself is holy, and the rule is holy, just, and good. 

Romans 13:8:14 –Do not owe anyone anything—except to love one another. For the one who loves another has fulfilled the Law. For the commandments, “You must not commit adultery; you must not murder; you must not steal; you must not covet,” and every other commandment are summed up in this statement: “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” Love never does anything that is harmful to its neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the Law. 

  This is necessary because you know the times—it’s already time for you to wake up from sleep, because our salvation is nearer now than when we became believers. The night is almost over, and the day is near. Let’s therefore put aside the actions of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let’s behave decently, as people who live in the light of day. No wild parties, drunkenness, sexual immorality, promiscuity, quarreling, or jealousy! Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, and do not obey your flesh and its desires. 

James 1:13-18 –When someone is tempted, he should not say, “I am being tempted by God,” because God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. Instead, each person is tempted by his own desire, being lured and trapped by it. 

  When that desire becomes pregnant, it gives birth to sin; and when that sin grows up, it gives birth to death. Do not be deceived, my dear brothers. Every generous act of giving and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father who made the heavenly lights, in whom there is no inconsistency or shifting shadow. In accordance with his will he made us his children by the word of truth, so that we might become the most important of his creatures.