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The Real and Untold Cost

Whenever I feel particularly vulnerable to sexual temptation, I find it helpful to review what effects my action could have:

  • —Grieving the Lord who redeemed me.
  • —Dragging his sacred name into the mud.
  • —One day having to look Jesus, the Righteous Judge, in the face and give an account of my actions.
  • —Following in the footsteps of these people whose immorality forfeited their ministries and caused me to shudder: (list names)
  • —Inflicting untold hurt on Nanci, my best friend and loyal wife.
  • —Losing Nanci's respect and trust.
  • —Hurting my beloved daughters, Karina and Angie.
  • —Destroying my example and credibility with my children, and nullifying both present and future efforts to teach them to obey God ("Why listen to a man who betrayed Mom and us?").
  • —If my blindness should continue or my wife be unable to forgive, perhaps losing my wife and my children forever.
  • —Causing shame to my family ("Why isn't Daddy a pastor anymore?").
March
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