Devotion for September 17, 2008

Overcoming Temptations

“Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” (James 1:13-15 NKJV)

Sin displays itself like Snow White’s deadly apple. It may look good to the eye but the end of it is death. The attraction to sin lies in our flesh. Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires. Cravings entice us and when the will yields to these cravings conception takes place, and sin is entered into.

It should be obvious that the best strategy to fight against sin is to control the mind. The Book of Romans tells us to transform our mind instead of being conformed to the world. How does one do this? It must be done by, “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5 NKJV).

Perhaps a personal illustration will serve us today. I quit smoking for the last time 20 years ago. I am not arguing either way about the sinfulness of smoking. However, overcoming this addiction taught me something about dealing with cravings. So hear me in that vein.

Notice I said I quit for the last time 20 years ago. I had quit numerous times for various lengths of days before that. Each failure had the same pattern. The cravings would hit around some trigger like coffee or food, and then a private discussion would take place in my mind. One side said, “No do not do it” the other reasoned, “Just this one more time won’t hurt, and you can quit tomorrow.” Once this discussion began conception had already taken place, and failure was inevitable.

Victory came when I decided not to allow the temptation to have a word. There would be no more private discussions. Only then did I gain victory over these cravings.

Victory over sin is gained the same way. If you allow yourself to have a private discussion about it, you will no doubt fall. Instead, you must take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. The cravings will no doubt be there, but you must not entertain them for one moment. In scriptural terms, you must be filled with the Holy Spirit. “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16 NKJV).

This is not rocket science, but it is hard. It requires true evangelical repentance. Had I really quit smoking all those times before the last time, not really? Have you truly repented of your sins? Not if you secretly want to continue in them. Only by renewing your mind will you crucify the flesh with its passions.

“And [do] this, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation [is] nearer than when we [first] believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to [fulfill its] lusts.” (Romans 13:11-14 NKJV)