Seeking the Kingdom of
God (6)
By T. M.
Moore Published Date: November 03, 2012
No temptation has overtaken you
that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be
tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the
way of escape, so that you may be able to endure it. - 1 Corinthians 10:13
Martin Luther is reported to have
said concerning temptation, “You can’t stop the birds from flying over your
head; but you can keep them from making a nest in your hair.” All Christians
can expect to be confronted with temptations of various sorts. Temptation is
not sin. When temptation comes, the goal is to grow through it into
a stronger experience of Kingdom righteousness, rather than to fall through
it into some spiritual or moral setback. We need to be on the lookout for
temptation, so that we recognize it when it comes. But we also need to find
the way of escape Paul mentioned as the key to growing through temptation.
In Psalm 73 Asaph reports on a
powerful temptation that almost snared him in sin. Here he was, a dedicated
servant of the Lord, daily submitting to all manner of spiritual disciplines
and rigors, and, so it seems, largely unappreciated for his work. Certainly
he wasn’t getting wealthy being a largely negative prophet in an age of great
wealth and spiritual complacency. When he looked around at the comforts rich
people enjoyed, and at their cavalier attitude toward God and His Law, he was
tempted to covet their ease and despise his calling.
But at just the right moment, he
recognized this temptation for what it was, and, in the process of
maintaining his righteousness, Asaph shows us six places to look in finding
the way of escape from temptation, so that the Kingdom of God can continue to
advance in and through us.
First, Asaph remembered that we
never sin alone: He reflected that sin on his part would be a betrayal of the
community of faith (v. 15). When we are confronted with temptation, we need
to remember that others are looking at us, taking their cues from us. If we
take sin into our souls it will affect not only us, but them, and the demands
of neighbor-love should help us to resist temptation and, thus, advance the
righteousness of God’s Kingdom in our lives.
Second, though, Asaph took his
temptation to the Lord (vv. 16, 17). By coming into His presence, undoubtedly
through prayer, He put his own temporal circumstances into an eternal and
heavenly perspective. It would be hard for sin to control him as long as his
heart and mind were fixed on and communing with the Lord.
Third, Asaph contemplated the
effects of sin (vv. 18-20). Sin, he reflected, is a slippery slope. One sin
leads to another, which leads to another, and so forth, until we’re so altogether
miserable and burdened with sin that we’re no good for any Kingdom
enterprise.
Fourth, Asaph expressed disgust with himself, that he would even contemplate descending into sinful behavior (vv. 21, 22). He became embittered in his soul to reflect that he was contemplating something more characteristic of brutes and fools than of a servant of the Lord. Fifth, Asaph sought the counsel of the Lord (v. 24). He turned to God’s Law so that he could see the ugliness of his covetous inclinations and nip them in the bud before they had a chance to bloom. Finally, he lingered in the presence of the Lord, until once again he began to know the fullness of joy and pleasures forever more which are to be had there (vv. 25-28; cf. Ps. 16:11). Perhaps he sang some hymns or took in some of the glory of God in the creation around.
The Kingdom of God advances as we overcome temptation. All
these ways of escaping temptation can make us stronger in the Lord through
the experience, and keep us growing through adversity in our pursuit of the
Kingdom of God.
Here’s an exercise for you to do
between you and the Lord only: Read Psalm 73. Do you have a besetting sin?
Using your tongue in a harsh or critical way? Stretching the truth? Lust?
Covetousness? Expect that you’re going to be tempted in this area, because
the devil knows your weaknesses, and he knows that this sin can keep you from
making progress in the Kingdom. Lay out a strategy for dealing with this
temptation. How will you recognize its presence? How will you make your
escape through it? What will you say to God on the other side of temptation,
so that you can continue to grow in the righteousness of His Kingdom?
|
Joshua 1:8
"...[B]ut you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8).
"You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me." (John 5:39).
"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13).
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Here's a great article concerning what we've been reading...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I really like the final point: linger in the presence of the Lord. I have to admit, this is something I've neglected as of late. I'm going to make it a priority to spend some time - even if it's only 5 minutes a day - in absolute silence before God.
ReplyDeleteThis is good. I am grateful for a God that's taken care of living out the law for us....
ReplyDelete"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death"
And I'm also greatful for a God that forgives when we do fall....
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."