Dealing with Temptation

For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 2:17-18 NIV

I wouldn't be surprised that if they took a poll and asked people why they didn't talk to someone else when they were being tempted - struggling with sin - they would say that they didn't think anyone would understand. Besides the fact they everybody is dealing with something, the good news is that Jesus does understand. 

Sin isolates, separates. The enemy would have us believe that no one else struggles like you do. Another lie is that you need to get yourself together, repent, before you seek Jesus' help. 

The truth is that Jesus is the perfect High Priest because he suffered when he was tempted and he is able to help us who are being tempted. Remember, being tempted is not a sin, because Jesus was tempted and he never sinned.  Since the Bible says that Jesus is able to help, then we need to turn to him for help and trust him at that moment. 

Have You Sinned Too Much?

We know that anyone born of God does not continue in sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.

I John 5:18

Sin. Everyone deals with it. I think we would all like to find a way to not have to deal with sin, to overcome all possible temptation and automatically steer clear of any situation that might allow sin to have its way in our lives. But John already told us that if we claim to be without sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 

In my experience condemnation comes when we are confronted with our own sinfulness as repeat offenders. What did Paul do when he was confronted with his own sinfulness? In II Corinthians 12:7-10 Paul discusses his thorn in the flesh. In the end God's message was that his grace was sufficient for Paul. God did not remove it, he just promised that his grace was sufficient. God kept Paul safe, in his grace. 

What about our struggle with sin, our thorns in the flesh? God's message remains the same. The one who was born of God keeps us safe. His grace is sufficient. I don't know what the sin that leads to death is, but, I do know that if the Spirit of God is working in me in such a way that makes me think of turning to God in any way (even questioning if his grace is sufficient) then God is still working in my life and his grace is sufficient. 

The evil one will seek to condemn us, telling us that if we are truly born of God that we won't keep struggling with the same temptations and the same sins. That is a lie from the father of all lies. Like Paul we cry out and accept that God's grace is sufficient. 

Father, thank you that we are kept safe in Christ. Forgive us our sins. Thank you and praise be to you in us today!

Dealing With Sin

Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

I John 3:4-6

Since we know that sinless perfection is not what is being discussed (see I John 1:8 - 2:2) we can sidestep some paralyzing guilt when we do sin. Let me say this; no sincere Christian wants to sin or be controlled by sin. If sin bugs you, if your sin makes you uneasy that is because the Spirit of God is inside you, convicting you. Not condemning, convicting. 

Maybe we can view conviction not just as a rebuke but a call to turn toward God, toward grace. Last summer my youngest son went to Boy Scout Summer camp and since it was his first year he participated in their Pathfinder program. One of the classes was on safely using knives. While the leader was going over something they call the blood circle (the distance you hold the knife out and someone could get injured/cut by it in any direction) a scout walked up grabbed a knife and said, "I got a knife like this! Can show you how to use it?" He was breaking just about every rule of safety and ignoring the leader asking him to stop and put the knife back. After getting the boy to set it down I took him aside and talked to him about being respectful and that if he would listen and properly handle a knife he could earn the badge. 

The lesson is that the leader was not telling the scout to put down the knife because he wasn't concerned about him, rather, because he was concerned for all the scouts' safety the leader warned him and instructed him how and why to handle knives properly. 

The Holy Spirit does not condemn us in regards to sin. The Holy Spirit convicts us and teaches us all truth. We will be tempted. We will sin. John teaches us to live in Christ, to abide or remain in Christ. Temptations, struggles and trials and can last a moment, a season or a lifetime. The Apostle Paul himself said he had a thorn in his flesh (II Corinthians 12:7-10) that just would not go away even though he earnestly served God and sought God about it. The deal was that he just kept seeking grace, that God says is sufficient. And that is what we are supposed to do. Keep seeking God. Keep seeking his grace. 

Father, thank you for your Spirit, your conviction and your grace! Praise be to you in us today!

CHRIST GETS IT

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin." Hebrews 4:15 

Have you ever heard a leader say that leadership should be on a higher level than the people they are serving? Well, I get that they should be a strong experienced believer with a special call upon their lives, but, when they start thinking they actually are more spiritual than everyone else, that's when problems usually begin. 

You see, that is the difference with Jesus. He is God. He is above everything yet, he came down and was like us to sympathize with us and minister to us. He understands temptation at its' deepest level. The temptation that he endured assures us that he understands whatever we are going through when we are tempted. 

Jesus gets that you are tempted by whatever tempts you.

He gets that it beats you up. 

He gets that the enemy condemns you for even being tempted, but that being tempted is not sinning. 

What ever you are feeling, he understands.

That is why we hold firmly to the faith we profess (verse 14)! We hold on to him because in him we have the victory. 

Jesus, thank you for being our High Priest that sympathizes with our weaknesses. Help us to hold on to you especially when we are tempted so that we, like you, will not sin. Praise be to you in us today!

TEMPTATION: TEASE OR ATTACK?

"Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." Hebrews 2:18 

Do you look at temptation as suffering? I don't think I do. Maybe it's because I tend to see sin as "pleasurable for a season". If you think about the temptation of Eve in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3) and of Christ in the desert (Matthew 4) the devil was attacking man's central trust and reliance on God. "Did God really say?", "If you are the Son of God". Temptation is not a cute little tease, temptation is an all out assault upon the umbilical cord of the faithfulness of God our Father. 

Christ, our faithful High Priest, suffered temptation to a degree we may never know the depths of. But, because he experienced temptations awful pull, he is able to help you and me when we are tempted. 

What is tempting you? Is your faith in Christ being assaulted? Do you realize that temptation is not benign? However you are feeling the effects of temptation know that Christ is able to help? 

Christ is able to help...

Lord Jesus Christ, help us! Praise be to you in us today!

JUST SAY "NO"/ Titus 2:11-14

"For the grace that bring salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." Titus 2:11-14

The Bible often puts things very simply. Just say "No". Notice it doesn't talk about how you will feel or what you might think, it just says to say "No". It reminds me of when my students sometimes want to "discuss" anything with me when they have been given a task. I will just repeat, "Get on task." Our sinful nature wants to do anything but be godly because godliness involves dying to self. 

The grace of God teaches us to rely upon the righteousness of Christ in us. We are righteous because Jesus died on the cross in place of our unrighteousness, our sin. When it comes to being tempted, and we will, we just have to learn to say "No". When opportunities for ungodliness and worldly passions arise, and they will, we need to learn to say "No". 

The mission for today: Say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions.

Father, teaches us to say "No". Praise be to you in us today!