‘Not being reconciled to the fact of sin— not
recognizing it and refusing to deal with it— produces all the disasters in
life. You may talk about the lofty virtues of human nature, but there is
something in human nature that will mockingly laugh in the face of every
principle you have. If you refuse to agree with the fact that there is wickedness and selfishness,
something downright hateful and wrong, in human beings, when it attacks your life, instead of
reconciling yourself to it, you will compromise with it and say that it is of
no use to battle against it. Have you taken this “hour, and the power of
darkness” into account, or do you have a view of yourself which includes no
recognition of sin whatsoever? In your human relationships and friendships,
have you reconciled yourself to the fact of sin? If not, just around the next
corner you will find yourself trapped and you will compromise with it. But if
you will reconcile yourself to the fact of sin, you will realize the danger
immediately and say, “Yes, I see what this sin would mean.” CHAMBERS
Do
you know someone who does not struggle with the temptation to sin? Actually,
you don’t. Sin .. or the desire or temptation to sin …
is something that all of us struggle with, but … “Blessed is
the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive
the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 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. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.” (James
1:12-16 NKJV)
There
are some people who seem to have no problems … and we wonder .. “How do they do
that?, How do they live a life free from the things that torment me?” The answer is, not that they don’t face
temptation, but that they respond to the temptation in a way that allows them
to resist being drawn away to walk the path that leads to sin. 1
Corinthians 10:13 says that we are all tempted, but God has made a way to
escape so that we can stand up against it. Jesus gave us the example in the desert when
He was tempted by Satan. “For we do
not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points
tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy
and find grace to help in time of need. “ (Hebrews
4:15-16 NKJV)
Living successfully in the face of the temptation to
sin all boils down to one thing … your connection with Jesus .. are you abiding
in the Vine .. or are you trying to produce fruit on your own. Are you reading the Word of God (Psalm 119:11)
.. or are you trying to use your own method ,, your “won’t power” … saying you won’t give in to the temptation …
if you could do that successfully .. Jesus
could have stayed in heaven .. but you can’t so He didn’t.
“Weak and wounded sinner, Lost and left to die, O, raise your head for Love is passing by,[…] Come to Jesus and live” Come to Jesus -- Chris Rice
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)
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