She lusted for the neighboring Assyrians, captains and rulers, clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding on horses, all of the desirable young men. Ezekiel 23:12
Lust is an extreme desire to have something. Most commonly it is seen as lust for sexual pleasures and fantasies to be fulfilled. The world is quick to play upon the lusts of people and stir up those lusts to bring about a fulfillment, whether those lusts are appropriate or not.
Ezekiel records God speaking against Jerusalem. He says that they are lusting for their neighbors the Assyrians, their captains and rulers who are well dressed, desirable and riding on horses.
The number one income maker in most nations is dwelt around sexual pleasures. Lust in men and women for sexual pleasures runs extremely high and often uncontrolled. Every sexual pleasure is seen as acceptable and good.
However, there are lusts for many other things. People lust for money, fame, popularity, acceptance, beauty, and much more. The world pushes advertisements for nearly everything imaginable that a person ‘needs’ to have to be someone.
As a result, many in the church, who claim to be believers, have fallen for those same lusts. They lust for their neighbors and what they have.
Believers are to be set apart from the world and only desire the things of God. Their number one desire, or lust, should be for God and the things of God.
There needs to be a recognition that the things of the world, though they may look good, will only bring about death in the end. There will be no fulfillment or complete satisfaction with the unholy lusts of the world.
God and His word and commands should be the ultimate desire of the believer. Being filled and led by the Holy Spirit will remove the unholy lusts of the world so that one only desires God.
The world all around you is presenting things that they feel you need to have to be someone. Those things are meant to replace God and the things He desires for you to have and be. Put your focus upon God and desire Him alone so that you do not desire people for sexual fantasies, nor the things of the world to make you someone. Be filled with His Holy Spirit to lead and guide you in His holy ways and to reveal to you the sinful pleasures of the world.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will desire God above the things of this world; that God will break the lusts for things that replace Him in your life; and that God will reveal sinful lusts in your life.
Photo by Isi Parente on Unsplash
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