Safeguarding the vulnerable (Young & old)

(Job 31:1) I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?

(2 Samuel 13:1-7,10-16) After this Absalom the son of David had a lovely sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. Amnon was so distressed over his sister Tamar that he became sick; for she was a virgin. And it was improper for Amnon to do anything to her. But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Now Jonadab was a very crafty man. And he said to him, “Why are you, the king’s son, becoming thinner day after day? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.” So Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’” Then Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let Tamar my sister come and make a couple of cakes for me in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.” And David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Now go to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.” Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them to Amnon her brother in the bedroom. Now when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.” But she answered him, “No, my brother, do not force me, for no such thing should be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing! And I, where could I take my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.” However, he would not heed her voice; and being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her. Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone!” So she said to him, “No, indeed! This evil of sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me.” But he would not listen to her.

I am not about to celebrate the woes and failings of the church but, to add a voice on the necessity to protect (safeguard of) the vulnerable ones in our midst.
True love according to 1 Corinthians 13) does not behave rudely or seek its own. As we mark Valentine’s day it is important to separate love from lust.
(Romans 6:12-13) Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members (body part) as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

The pathetic story of Amnon and Tamar above (which could have happened on a Valentine’s Day) gives us an indication that nothing new under Heaven. However, it depicts the level of depravity to which human beings will descend to take advantage of another sexually.
(Jeremiah 17:9 AMP) The heart is deceitful above all things And it is extremely sick; Who can understand it fully and know its secret motives?

The bible states that (Proverbs 4:23) Keep [Guard] your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
Amnon’s problems started when he gave to improper thoughts room to grow and fester in his mind. As developed as technology today, we are yet to see televisions that turn themselves on or books or magazines that flip pages by themselves or even computers that browse website on their own (without someone in control).
In fact, ‘YOU’ are the gatekeeper to your heart according to (Proverbs 4:23). The power is in your hands to be a weak gatekeeper or a strong one.
(Proverbs 23:7a) For as he thinks in his heart, so is he….

(1 Corinthians 6:12) All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
May I ask are under the (control) grip of pornography, masturbation, inordinate and pre-marital sex or do you dabble one night stands etc, etc ?
The next time you sit in front of a computer or television watching a program, ask yourself “Is this benefiting my life or degrading me ? ‘Am I been brought under bondage by this program ?
Am I presenting my body as instrument of unrighteousness ?
(Romans 6:16) Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey…..
Don’t you know that whatever you sow you will reap ? And that there’s no better fertile ground than your mind. Many carefully packaged films, drama stylish photographs in magazines are created to slowly desensitise you and weaken your morals to accept what is wrong, improper and ungodly – by appealing to you to do what is not Holy and lawful before God.

It my understanding that if you are a thief should never take up employment in the bank, or else you will soon find yourself in prison. Same goes with sexual images and the environment.
(1 Corinthians 7:9) but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

I am sure you will agree with me that, it is sad, disturbing and disheartening to hear any child has been sexually molested or a lady/man has been raped. Not wishing or praying this on anyone. Can you imagine the psychological devastation this kind of trauma can cause and it’s ripple effect for years to come – many never regain complete sanity after this.
Some of these evil (despicable) occurrences start when seeds of impure thoughts are sown in the heart. In the case of Amnon, he had a ‘demoniac’ as a friend – Jonadab, who rather than dissuade him, helped fertilised (catalysed) his thoughts. The bible says in: (1 Corinthians 15:33 AMP) Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
From then on he executed his thoughts towards his sister by carrying out an incest.

If you have committed or still into this type of sin: (1 John 1:9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Seek good Pastoral help & counselling.

My heart and prayers are with the Tamars’ of this world who feel dirty, traumatised, whose dignity has been violated and stolen by these unfortunate creatures who dare to be known as humans – as in the case of Shechem the son of Hamor and Dinah (Genesis 34:2). Remember vengeance belongs to The Lord.
May The Lord console and restore you. May He (God) wipe away the sorrows of the past in Jesus name (Amen).

As guardians to the flock of God, it is incumbent on us all to be vigilant, responsive to being our brothers/sisters/children’s keeper in every possible way, admonishing and rebuking with the word of God.
Let us not forget that, the church in U.K. & Ireland failed (ignored the cries of) some people in the past, by not taking swift action against perpetrators of these dastardly acts which has led to resentment to the gospel by so many because they find it inconceivable as well as incomprehensible that this can happen in the church – and so trust is lost !

“IT IS A DISGRACEFUL THING, TO VIOLATE ANYONE, LET YOUR THOUGHTS BE PURE”

# Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things (Philippians 4:8)

Good morning my family of friends.

Purify my heart, let it be as …….Refiners fire
Still singing songs of victory, Hallelujah!

From: ‘Imitators of Christ, renewing the mind, under the guidance of The Holy Spirit’