The Scarlet Letter

God's seventh Commandment

Exodus 20:14
Thou shalt not commit adultery.



Galatians
5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 

Oh the flesh of man, there is no greater tool than that of the body to bring you closer to God or to tear your soul apart. 
In today's society, we accept adultery to mean having extra marital affairs. There is indeed a much larger picture, because it is God of course!

Adultery, as referenced in God's Word does pertain to having sexual relations outside of one's marriage but also so much more.

Adultery, in it's most raw form, is being unfaithful. It is breaking your commitment, being dishonorable and turning your back on your own word.

God's Word sadly shows us just how many times and in oh so many ways, man has chosen be unfaithful and full of adultery.

Within marriage

Proverbs
6:32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. 

God's chosen lineages

Psalm
78:55 He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
78:56 Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:
78:57 But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. 

And even an entire nation

Jeremiah
3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
3:9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. 


There are many ways in which we bring adultery before God. When we choose our flesh, when we walk in our own desires, we are not walking in His Spirit and He cannot (will not) walk in us.

Adultery is not limited to some pronounced action that is made public by any means, remember where the devil lies…

Matthew
5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 

We must be mindful, as His children, to abide in spirit all the time. We must be aware of the weakness of the flesh and of the subtleties of satan.
We must remember those that came before us, in much more righteousness than ourselves, and they did often fall prey to adulterous behavior against the LORD.

If we are called to be His, we must desire to fight our flesh and live in spirit. God will not find usefulness in those who will walk unfaithful to Him at the beckoning of the flesh.

1 Corinthians
10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 

Be blessed my friends xo