Monday, September 19, 2016

Understanding The Spiritual Nature Of Temptation And Sin

My Utmost For His Highest
 
You are those who have continued with Me in My trials. —Luke 22:28
 
“Watch when God changes your circumstances to see whether you are going on with Jesus, or siding with the world, the flesh, and the devil. We wear His name, but are we going on with Him? “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (John 6:66). […] Are we remaining faithful to the Son of God in everything that attacks His life in us? Are you going on with Jesus? […] The way is lonely and goes on until there is no longer even a trace of a footprint to follow— but only the voice saying, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19).”  CHAMBERS
 
I see it every day in others .. I experience it every day in myself … the temptation to go our own way. When we first left the Army, we moved to a farm.  We had a herd of 20 cows.  Having never been around large animals, there was a lot to learn.  How to move 20 cows to a place of my choosing was one of the lessons.  What I learned was that if I could create the impression that where I wanted them to go is where they wanted to go, moving them to that place was much easier.  Tempting them to go where their instincts led them.  Giving them the impression that it was better than where they were.  And so we are tempted in the same way.  We make choices that appear to be the best for us, even though they are contrary to what we know is best.  We see an opening and we take it.  Like the cows, we have forgotten what happened the last time.  We minimize the risk and focus on the relief .. which seldom comes .. and if it does, it is fleeting.
 
Do you find yourself stuck in a cycle of making bad choices?  Of going to the wrong place in life? Have you stopped following Jesus in favor of going with the herd?  Two words.  STOP IT!  Easy to say you are thinking.  Temptation and sin have spiritual roots that are manifested in the natural.  You can’t be successful in changing the course of your life simply by trying harder.  You know that already don’t you?  It is the doing that is our challenge. Success is dependent upon our spiritual health.  Reading the Word (Joshua 1:8) , praying (James 5:16) , interacting with other Christians (Proverbs 27:17) do not make the temptations go away.  But they are sources of spiritual strength and do help us stand against them.  ELGIN

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