Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 2:15-17 (NIV)
I have been trying to be careful about using the word "love" in my everyday conversation. This is one of those instances where our language fails us at times, or at least does not really convey the exact meaning of what we are trying to say. If I say that I love chocolate, people will understand the inference of my statement-- I really enjoy eating chocolate. "Love" is one of those words that we casually toss around because we have attached so many inferences to the word that the word has become diluted. There are many different types of love and love comes in many shades. Perhaps we should come up with other words to describe the degree of the love of which we speak.
Our true love should not be of this world, but focused on an eternity spent in the presence of God, our Father, the Creator of all things. This love of which I speak is in some ways so big, so complex, that it is beyond our understanding. This love is the absolute adoration and the total reverence to the Living God. We become closer to understanding this love through prayer, studying God's Word, and meditation. God loves us and we are to love Him with all that we have within us.
We are in this world so we go along with it with the understanding that this is just a temporary state of things. This world will all pass away and nothing that we owned or accomplished will matter any more. Only our relationship with God will matter. We should care about our families and love others because God has commanded this. But when we love others more than we love God or when the things of this world become our obsession, then our love for God becomes diluted and we are diverted from loving him. An inappropriate love for the things of this world will cause us to lose sight of the only true love that matters and then we become weakened and susceptible to temptation.
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5:8-11 (NIV)
We are all tempted. Followers of Christ must resist that temptation because the devil wants to fall into his traps. All followers are tempted and must encourage one another and provide support. This is why being a part of a body of believers is important. It is not the structured religion that matters, but the support that the body of believers can give to its members. It is important to find a body that believes in Bible teachings, to serve in that body, and be nutured. Your brothers and sisters in Christ will help keep you accountable, and the Holy Spirit will strengthen you to resist temptation.
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
You are not the only one experiencing the temptations you may be facing. Humans have been facing similar temptations for centuries and you are in the company of many others now. There is strength in numbers and that is why being a part of a body of like minded individuals can be so important. Whether it be a support group or just having a mature accountability partner, it is good to have someone to help you resist your temptations. Prayer is also vital. If you are battling with temptation, then become a prayer warrior so you can win the fight with God on your side. Satan can defeat you if you let him, but Satan cannot defeat God. With God on your side you are invincible.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:11 (NIV)
If you know the specific temptations that weaken you, then find some specific Bible verses that address those temptations and how to overcome them. Memorize those verses and hide them in your heart as your secret weapon. When temptation confronts you, take out the sword of God's word and cut that temptation down. You have the resources to empower yourself against sin. God provides everything you need--it's up to you to use it.
Showing posts with label Resisting Temptation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Resisting Temptation. Show all posts
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Resisting Temptation
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4 (NIV)
When training to prepare for war, soldiers will practice under conditions much like those they will face in battle. The training itself can be very dangerous and is a tortuous ordeal. Soldiers will practice nearly any conceivable situation so that they will be ready when they come face to face with the real life combat. The same goes for firefighters, police, astronauts, or anyone else who is facing life and death in their occupation.
We all are tested in our lives. Sometimes the testing comes in the form of hypothetical what if conversations with others. Other times we may recognize choices that we see before us or others that require wise moral judgment. Our training may come in the form of what we read or the entertainment choices we make. We may have questions and others may question us. The Christian walk consists of challenges to our faithfulness everyday. Just like a person may train at the gym to build stronger bodies, a Christian should always be in training to build up a stronger faith. The trials we face may be perilous and stressful, but each time we overcome one we are strengthened to resist the really big temptations that we may face later. We must always press onward to become better equipped in our faith.
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12 (NIV)
A military hero has gone through the training and testing necessary to go successfully into battle. The soldier who becomes a hero has persevered to attain his rank and when he has proven his bravery under fire he may receive accolades and medals. An athlete in training will endure much physical stress, but they may be later rewarded if they win the contest in which they enter. When we endure our training as Christians and have stood firm against trials, tests, and temptations God will reward us for our efforts which demonstrate our love for Him.
When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
James 1:13-15 (NIV)
God does not tempt us, but he has given us free will. We are each given a choice how to live and what decisions we want to make in our lives. God has laid out the rules for righteous living and it is up to us to play by these rules. Often we want to make our own special rules based on what we want or how we feel. These are the rules created by our evil or misguided desire. We should not fall into this trap because the consequences are very bad--the consequence is death. Doing wrong is sin and the wages of sin is death.
Let's look at it another way. Traffic laws have been enacted in order to create a safe environment for driving and to keep order on the roads. If everyone decided to just drive according to what they felt was right for them and to suit their wishes there would be chaos on the roads, accidents would be more frequent, and people would die. We have enforcement in the form of police and if we do not follow the laws we may get a ticket or even have our privilege to drive taken away from us. The rules have been made for a good reason and most of us resist the temptation to break them because we don't want to face unpleasant consequences.
One might try to argue against the laws set forth by God, but if one really studies these laws the logic is there and the logic is complete. The laws are based on good reasoning. One's own selfish desires may try to exempt them from some of these laws, but it doesn't really work that way. Think and reason thoroughly and you will see. But don't think too hard, because there is no really good reason to do so. Your selfish ambitions may deceive you into the enticements of your own desire, but this will come to no good end. Trusting in yourself will not ultimately save you, but trusting in God will.
James 1:2-4 (NIV)
When training to prepare for war, soldiers will practice under conditions much like those they will face in battle. The training itself can be very dangerous and is a tortuous ordeal. Soldiers will practice nearly any conceivable situation so that they will be ready when they come face to face with the real life combat. The same goes for firefighters, police, astronauts, or anyone else who is facing life and death in their occupation.
We all are tested in our lives. Sometimes the testing comes in the form of hypothetical what if conversations with others. Other times we may recognize choices that we see before us or others that require wise moral judgment. Our training may come in the form of what we read or the entertainment choices we make. We may have questions and others may question us. The Christian walk consists of challenges to our faithfulness everyday. Just like a person may train at the gym to build stronger bodies, a Christian should always be in training to build up a stronger faith. The trials we face may be perilous and stressful, but each time we overcome one we are strengthened to resist the really big temptations that we may face later. We must always press onward to become better equipped in our faith.
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12 (NIV)
A military hero has gone through the training and testing necessary to go successfully into battle. The soldier who becomes a hero has persevered to attain his rank and when he has proven his bravery under fire he may receive accolades and medals. An athlete in training will endure much physical stress, but they may be later rewarded if they win the contest in which they enter. When we endure our training as Christians and have stood firm against trials, tests, and temptations God will reward us for our efforts which demonstrate our love for Him.
When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
James 1:13-15 (NIV)
God does not tempt us, but he has given us free will. We are each given a choice how to live and what decisions we want to make in our lives. God has laid out the rules for righteous living and it is up to us to play by these rules. Often we want to make our own special rules based on what we want or how we feel. These are the rules created by our evil or misguided desire. We should not fall into this trap because the consequences are very bad--the consequence is death. Doing wrong is sin and the wages of sin is death.
Let's look at it another way. Traffic laws have been enacted in order to create a safe environment for driving and to keep order on the roads. If everyone decided to just drive according to what they felt was right for them and to suit their wishes there would be chaos on the roads, accidents would be more frequent, and people would die. We have enforcement in the form of police and if we do not follow the laws we may get a ticket or even have our privilege to drive taken away from us. The rules have been made for a good reason and most of us resist the temptation to break them because we don't want to face unpleasant consequences.
One might try to argue against the laws set forth by God, but if one really studies these laws the logic is there and the logic is complete. The laws are based on good reasoning. One's own selfish desires may try to exempt them from some of these laws, but it doesn't really work that way. Think and reason thoroughly and you will see. But don't think too hard, because there is no really good reason to do so. Your selfish ambitions may deceive you into the enticements of your own desire, but this will come to no good end. Trusting in yourself will not ultimately save you, but trusting in God will.
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