Self-Correcting – The Seventh Commandment

Self-correcting

The seventh commandment

Exodus 20.14; Deuteronomy 5.18

“And you shall not commit adultery.”

Psalm 119.59, 60

“When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments”

Correcting a sinful heart.

Each of us is responsible for what we allow to settle into our souls. And, as we’ve been saying all week, whatever settles into our souls will, sooner or later, take control of our lives, whether in large or small ways. Solomon commanded us to keep a close watch over our hearts, and to use our minds to anticipate where sexual (and other) temptations might lie, so that we don’t go there. If we direct our conscience to have as the highest priority and value delight in things beautiful, good, and true, then it will firmly guide our hearts and minds to function as they should (the screen saver test will tell you the state of your conscience). But what about when we blow it – if only in our hearts? What do we do then? That’s when, hearing the convicting voice of God’s Spirit (Jn. 16.8-11), we need to take action to correct our thoughts or affections and guide them in ways more pleasing to God. We need to bring them under the scrutiny of God’s Word and let Him teach us how to think or feel about the situation into which we have fallen. Then we need to turn our feet to the path of obedience, repenting of sinful thoughts or feelings by fixing heart and mind on those things that are truly pleasing to God. We can resist the temptation to commit adultery in our hearts; but even when we fail, we must seek the Lord’s help to redirect our steps.

How do you know when the Spirit of God is trying to convict you of sin? What do you typically do then?

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“In the Gates” is a devotional series on the Law of God by Rev. T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is editor of the Worldview Church. He serves as dean of the Centurions Program of the Wilberforce Forum and principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He is the author or editor of twenty books, and has contributed chapters to four others. His essays, reviews, articles, papers, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and international journals, and on a wide range of websites. His most recent books are The Ailbe Psalter and The Ground for Christian Ethics (Waxed Tablet).

Scripture quotations in this article are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (c) copyright 2001,2007 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Editor’s note: The use of a translation other than the Authorised Version in an article does not constitute an endorsement in whole or in part by The Christian Observer.