2/26/25

In our time with these young men, Nick and I shared about a number of things on this topic, but one of my main contentions for today was to emphasize the practical actions that we can take to avoid falling into temptation. I opened with a passage from the book of James that describes the progression that takes place when we become enticed by our evil desires.

"Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death" James 1:13-15

In looking at this passage, we were able to recognize the crucial moment that happens when we acknowledge an evil desire that we have. When we become enticed and captivated by our own evil desires, we make the choice to step into it and obtain it. However, so much can be avoided when we walk away before our evil desires become conceived. "But how are we supposed to do that? You don't understand the extreme reality of temptation constantly knocking at my door". No, I actually do understand that. I'm not sure what it was like before the widespread availability of technology and social media, but I certainly know how terribly it has plagued our world. I don't want to be discounted as simply another tech-hater, but I think it takes a significant amount of ignorance, arrogance, or apathy to not be utterly broken by the ways we have voluntarily fallen under a yoke of slavery. Did Christ not set us free? Why then do we keep going back to our prior abuser in submission? Do we not remember the oppression that sin held us in? *I don't want to make this sound like I think I am sinless because that isn't true; but ignorant people are falling under the very yoke of sin that Christ came to free us from! How can we not be burdened by this?! Are we not to be ministers of reconciliation and the light of the world?!

There are serious snares set before mankind that they might reinstitute their status of slave, but we are not left helpless. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us that God is faithful and will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. Rather He will provide us a way of escape in times of temptation. The question seems less about the presence of help and more about the willingness of the drowning man to take the hand of the rescuer. God promises that we will not be tempted beyond what we can bear, nor will we be neglected a way out; however, God never promises that it will be comfortable. In fact, Jesus indicates quite the opposite.

As you can see above in Matthew's account of Jesus' famous teaching referred to as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus has an odd exhortation for those battling with sin. "Cut off your arm... gouge out your eye". "I'm not trying to challenge you, Jesus, but don't you think pirates are equally subject to the temptations that I am? How can the removal of body parts fix my temptation?" It can't, and Jesus knows that! In verse 28, Jesus tells us where the true issue is taking place - the heart. Surely the mere removal of an eye and arm will not irradicate our wrestle with sin. No, Jesus is not promoting self-mutilation in pursuit of righteousness; however, for some of us, that might sound easier than His true message.

Jesus often utilizes hyperbolic statements to emphasize the extreme severity of a point He is making. In this teaching, it seems that Jesus is describing the cost of resisting temptation to sin. Jesus shows how our efforts to walk resistant to temptation will often be inconvenient, embarrassing, publicly recognizable, and painful. Am I willing to accept God's provision and way out of temptation even if I look like a weak and sinful person in a public way? Even if it makes normal tasks more challenging to accomplish? Even if everyone asks why I am different in that way? Let us not be manipulated by our prideful egotism, but may we be humble enough to accept God's form of help - whatever it may be.

How stupid would it be to accuse God of not helping you resist the temptation to be jealous, angry, bitter, lustful, prideful, rude, impatient, etc. when He has clearly told you that your social media is standing in the way? It doesn't make much sense to ignore the cause of person's ailment and merely treat the perpetual stream of symptoms it naturally produces. It might not be social media for you, but I wouldn't throw the idea out too quickly.

How can we better obey Jesus' instruction to remove "members of our body" for the sake of life in freedom? How can we better encourage each other, as members of one Body, to sacrifice generously for the sake of unity with Christ and love towards others?

May God bless us with grace, mercy, and conviction,

Ivan Penrose