How Can We Have Success Against Temptation

temptation

Oscar Wilde famously wrote, “The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it…I can resist everything except temptation.”

Temptation is a battle everyone faces.  Sometimes, it sneaks up on us and we give in before we even realize the temptation is there.  Other times, we wrestle with the temptation, doing our best to overcome.  Many times, we are successful, but more times than not we fail.

Today, I want to offer some insights that hopefully will help us all find more success against temptation.

What Is Temptation?

James 1:12-15 gives us some of the clearest Biblical teaching on temptation.  James draws an important distinction for us between the testing of our faith and the temptation to sin.  Interestingly, in the original Greek, both “temptation” and “trial” come from the same word.  The difference is seen in the outcome of a particular circumstance.

If an adversity builds my faith, trust, and reliance on God, then I can consider it a trial.  But should that same adversity cause me to disobey God in some way, it then becomes a temptation. How I choose to respond determines whether adversity is a temptation or a test.

Where Does Temptation Come From?

In distinguishing between trials and temptation, James also helps us identify temptation by its source.  God is not tempted by evil and He does not tempt anyone to give in to any form of evil thought or action.

Temptation, however, is an inside job.  James shows us that it comes when we are “lured and enticed” by our own desire.  It uses our own fleshly desire against us to draw us out from a more desirable state of obedience.

We tend to blame our circumstances for our sin. James shows us that we are the ones to blame. Temptation comes when we allow ourselves to be duped into desiring something other than God’s provision.

How Does Temptation Affect Us?

We can see another distinction between trials and temptation in the outcomes of each.  In verses 2-8, James shows us that trials strengthen our faith and draw us closer to the Lord.  When God allows adversity in our lives, He hopes to draw us closer to Himself.

In verse 15, James shows the dangerous downward spiral into which temptation throws us.  Sin is the love child when our fleshly desire gives in to temptation.  When sin grows up, it leads to death.

There is a sense in which all death here on earth is the consequence of sin’s presence.  The original sin in the Garden of Eden introduced death to God’s perfect creation, just as He warned it would.

But our present sin also leads to death on several levels.  Because of our sin, Jesus died.  When we harbor unconfessed sin, our fellowship with God is temporarily offline.  Sin causes the death of relationships, health, and a myriad of other consequences.  Temptation makes sin look very attractive in its immediate gratification.  But it fails to show us the long term ill-effects.

What Can I Do to Overcome Temptation?

Nothing.  You are powerless.

I am glad the article doesn’t end with the previous two sentences.  You see while we are powerless on our own to overcome temptation, our almighty Redeemer has already conquered for us.  The catch is that we must choose to appropriate His victory on the cross rather than give in to our desire.

In a previous blog, I offered some practical steps we can take when we find ourselves facing a battle with temptation.  I would love it if you clicked here and read it.  I think it will help.

In a way, Oscar Wilde was right.  We only get rid of temptation by letting it have its way.  Unfortunately, it’s never satisfied.  It will be back again; begging for even more.  As we grow strong in our faith, we recognize it sooner and turn to the One who is our rescue.

Further Reading:

No Shortcut No Hack for Spiritual Growth

Thoughts on Life and Death

life and death
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The news of the death of Marlin’s pitcher Jose Fernandez shocked the sports world Sunday morning.  Fernandez, only 24 years old, was an incredibly talented pitcher with a larger than life personality.  His exuberance inspired his teammates and often infuriated his opponents.  His shocking death in the prime of his life gives reason for us all to reflect on our lives.  What are your thoughts on life and death?

Life is fragile, and one inescapable statistic is that 1 out of every 1 people die.  For some, like Fernandez, that death seems to come much to early. For others, death comes as a welcomed release from a long struggle for survival.  Regardless of it’s timing, however, death eventually visits everyone, and we must prepare while we can.

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An Alternative View of Death

cemetery

Saturday will mark the day seven years ago that my dad passed from this life to his heavenly home. The memories are still fresh and in many ways I live as though he were still with me because in my mind and in my heart he is. I miss his physical presence and the opportunities and blessings that would afford, but I would not wish him back to earth from heaven for one moment for that would be the cruelest of all wishes.

Recently, in our church we buried four church members in a 26-day stretch. That is a lot of grieving and our church members miss each of these dear souls greatly. I had a similar experience at a previous church where I preached 12 sermons over a 6 month period, 4 of them in one month alone. Those are difficult times for a pastor, a congregation, and even more so for the families involved.

During this most recent stretch, I heard a church member comment about the death of one of our members by saying, “That sure was bad about ______, wasn’t it?” I’ve heard statements like that before, and even said them myself.

As I thought about the upcoming anniversary of my dad’s death and as I prepared for the funeral of one of our dear saints from our church, the Lord reminded me that the answer to the question is “no, not for the Jesus-follower. It’s not bad.”

Psalm 116:15 reminds us that the death of one of His saints is PRECIOUS in God’s eyes. Yes, you read that correctly, PRECIOUS. The Hebrew word rendered “precious” in that verse refers to something that is of high value like a precious stone. The Jesus-follower can view death as a valuable event rather than a sad moment. Remaining family and friends may be saddened by the death, but for the believer, it is VALUABLE.

Most of us have too high of an estimation of our earthly existence. We tend to over-value this life and all that accompanies our life here. We overwork and over-extend ourselves to amass earthly goods, we bend over backwards to attain earthly credits and praise, and we prioritize our time, energy, and resources around things that are earthly.

Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:1-2 to set our minds toward and seek things that are eternal instead of things that are earthly.

What kind of view do your priorities reflect? Do you wear yourself out living for life on THIS side of eternity when there is a far more valuable life awaiting you? Jesus reminded us not to lay up treasures here on earth, but to lay up treasures in heaven. (Matthew 6:19-21)

How can you reorder your priorities, resources, plans, and practices to reflect an eternal view? When you pass away will it be a bad thing because you are leaving behind what was most valuable to you or will it be PRECIOUS because you will finally reap the heavenly investment you made here on earth?

The First Valentine

St. Valentine’s Day is one of the most highly celebrated times of the year. Who was St. Valentine anyway?

Valentine was a priest in Rome in the Third Century AD. The Emperor at that time, Claudius II, wanted to amass a powerful army, but could not get any volunteers. It seemed as though men wanted to stay home with their families. So, Claudius declared marriage to be illegal. Valentine defied the Emperor’s decree and secretly married young couples. He was eventually arrested, imprisoned, and on February 14, 269 he was beheaded. The jail keeper’s daughter visited him often and encouraged him. She too believed that true love was a just cause! The night before he was beheaded he left her a note thanking her for her encouragement and signed it “your dear Valentine.” Thus began a tradition!

What a challenge. What are we willing to risk to show love to others or to encourage others to love? The ultimate expression of love was when God sent His Son into the world to become the payment for our sins.Romans 5:8 says it this way, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

Did you catch that qualifying statement? “While we were still sinners.” Now that is unconditional love. God does not wait for us to love Him; He takes initiative. God does not wait for us to straighten up; He loves us as we are. God does not love us partially; He went all the way to the cross with His love.

We can follow God’s loving example by loving unconditionally. We find it easy to love those we like, but what about those we do not like, even those who mistreat us? True love extends even to those who are different from us, indifferent about us, or unloving toward us. True love is given for no reasons, it is just given.

Let me encourage you to become a St. Valentine to several people this year. Take the initiative to love unconditionally and without thought of how your love will be received or if it will be requited. Find someone who NEEDS love, take a risk and SHOW them love. You may be surprised at the results. True love is indeed a just cause.