Let’s reflect on what it means to live lives of true dignity and let’s consider what gets in the way.

Jesus said, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:28

“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”  1 John 2:17-18

Let us grow in dignity listening attentively to the Holy Spirit as we encourage one another to love not lust.

God wants to put us on a path of dignity. He knows that lustful looks lead to sinful choices and even with lustful gazes we have already lost our dignity.

Jesus told His apostles to “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41

If you are guilty of looking lustfully at the opposite sex or consuming pornography, then TODAY is the day you can change!  If you are in debt because you buy things you can’t really afford, then pray to God for wisdom.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

None of us have to be defined by our past choices.   We can choose to change and Jesus will help us and restore our dignity. But before we can change we need to carefully examine our lives and determine how we need to change.

We can lose our dignity by the way we speak. Why do intelligent people have to sprinkle their speech with profanity?  Let us repent of our sin.

“The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” James 3:6

When we become mindful that we are always living in the presence of God we begin to speak with greater reverence and respect for one another.

“For this is what the high and exalted One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”  Isaiah 57:15

Let’s ask Jesus to help us become the people He truly wants us to be. Let’s choose to look at one another with dignity and respect (not as lustful sexual creatures but loving, compassionate people) and let’s speak to one another with words Our Holy Lord would approve of.

Let’s live in the Spirit of God and make choices that will truly honour Him, for that is a path of dignity to live for God and for His Glory. Let’s recognize the paths that lead to sin and avoid them. Maybe that means saying ‘no’ to parties that lead to too much drinking. Maybe that means setting aside more time to be with God and read and reflect on His Holy Word as spoken in the Scriptures. Maybe it means committing to some sort of charitable work that will inspire and nourish your Spirit. Maybe it means trusting more in Jesus and praying more for His guidance to make the right choices.  Maybe it means more quality time with family, especially teaching our children the path of dignity.

Let us pray…

Holy Lord, you came into the world to set us free from the bondage of sin. Help us Holy One to look closely at our lives to identify the ways in which we are losing our dignity. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit Lord so that we can turn away from sin and begin anew on a path of dignity, knowing that we are walking with You on the road to our true destiny, heaven! We love You Jesus and we trust in You and hope in You! Help us to be the people you desire, a people of dignity, of reverence, of hope, of light!  We will stop to remember how much You suffered for us on the Cross each day at 3pm (in our local time zones) for 3pm is the time You died for us. At this Holy Time we will pray for Your mercy to be poured out like a healing balm upon our suffering world broken by sin, by violence, by ignorance and by rejection of Your Holy Will. We will never stop loving You for You are Our Saviour and we know that You will set us free from sin so that we can be all Yours, a people of dignity and love! We trust in Your infinite mercy Jesus and pray in Your Holy Name Lord. Amen.”

“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” Proverbs 31:24-25

It is almost two decades now that I have been meditating daily on the Passion of Christ as I walk the Way to Calvary at 3pm, the Time Jesus died for us.  This daily reflection on the suffering of Our Lord Jesus moves my heart each and every day to try to give Him everything!  When we reflect on how much Jesus suffered to save us, temptation loses its grip on our lives as we surrender everything to Our Lord Jesus.  We become faithful to God not out of fear but out of great longing to please Him for He has given everything to open the gates of paradise for us.  Loyalty to God is not burdensome or difficult when we realize how much He loves us and how much He has prepared for us in eternity.   Look at Him on the Cross dying for you and let that love be forever on Your mind and when that happens you will be FREE – free from temptation, free from longing for self-gratification.

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

“We love because he first loved us.”  1 John 4:19