Are You Headed for Gehenna?

You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that everyone who so much as looks at a woman with evil desire for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye serves as a trap to ensnare you or is an occasion for you to stumble and sin, pluck it out and throw it away. It is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be cast into hell (Gehenna). And if your right hand serves as a trap to ensnare you or is an occasion for you to stumble and sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better that you lose one of your members than that your entire body should be cast into hell (Gehenna). Matthew 5:27-30 Amplified

Are you headed for Gehenna? For hell? How could that be? It isn’t something that people “plan” on doing—going to hell…any more than they “plan” to commit adultery, or plan to kill, steal or lie. Or do they? Do you? Jesus was teaching His followers there in His Sermon on the Mount, and us now, that the way a person thinks about something is just as if it were that way. We usually think about something before we do it. Jesus used adultery as an example—but it can apply to any of the six human relational Ten Commandments. Those are:

            Honor your father and mother.

            Thou shall not kill.

            Thou shall not commit adultery.

            Thou shall not steal.

            Thou shall not bear false witness (lie).

            Thou shall not covet.
Just thinking those things is the same as to do them. In addition He was teaching that these even go beyond “thinking” in that “killing” could be to ruin someone’s reputation or defame their character, not actually harming their body. So what are we to do? Here are some scripture gems that I’ve treasured…in my heart. May these be guiding words for us all.

…but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 1 Peter 3:4

…in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.1 John 3:20

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

My current “favorite” verse of promise and encouragement is one that direct us to think with our head and our heart…before we act.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 

 

RSVP: Jesus is teaching us about behavior that is pleasing to God…and creates good relationships with other people. How will you respond to Him today? Will you dwell on the good, the true and  the beautiful?  

Prayer ~ Jesus, we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalms 51:10  

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

How about some meringue? Light as a cloud—heavenly? A refreshing summer dessert when topped with fresh fruit or ice cream…or both! 

Meringue Shell Clouds  - serves 8-10

Heat oven to 275 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

3 egg whites

¼ tsp cream of tartar

¾ cup sugar 

Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in a small mixing bowl. It is important for the bowl and the beaters to be totally grease/oil free. Any grease will keep the egg whites from becoming stiff. Add sugar 1 Tbsp at a time and continue beating until stiff and glossy. Do not under beat.  Create individual meringue shell clouds by dropping about 1/3 cup meringue onto the baking sheet, shaping it into circles with a dent in the middle. Bake 1 hour. Turn off the oven and leave the meringues in the oven with the door CLOSED 1 ½ hours. Finish cooling at room temperature. Fill just before serving. Use your imagination for fillings. Ice cream or sorbet with chopped fresh peaches, strawberries, or raspberries,  topped with hot fudge sauce and then slivered almonds. Garnish with some fresh mint.

© 2014 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.