JAN 30

Colossians 3:5
Memorise Colossians 3:1
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above…”

HOW TO DEAL WITH TEMPTATION FROM WITHIN?

As much as we are surrounded by corrupting influences in this world, we also realize that the greatest source of temptation comes from within. When I find myself in trouble I do often think, I am actually my worst enemy. I don’t need Satan to tempt me, or others to sin against me, for there is already so much sin in me that causes my failings. Our earthly bodies are indeed the chief source of our evil desires. Thus we need to mortify sin in our members (bodies) – which is kill it and so destroy its power. Fornication is sex outside marriage; inordinate affection is an unnatural and degrading passion (e.g. bestiality, homosexuality, incest, paedophilia); and evil concupiscence is an evil strong sexual desire. These are all our sins which if we do not kill, but instead feed their appetites, will spread like weeds that spoil and consume a lovely garden or pests that multiply and spread disease. We must not only kill fleshy sins, we must also keep our minds in check. Covetousness is a sin of the mind and is spiritual idolatry because though we do not bow down and worship things, things have replaced God’s foremost position in our hearts.

Yes, each and every one of us is born with sinful desires. We feel lust, envy, jealously, hatred, anger. Some desires so wicked we dare not even admit them to ourselves. However, God created man with a free will to choose. And you, as a child of God have been freed from the bondage of sin by Christ’s death on the cross and given the will to choose: to sin or not to sin, to get rid of sin or to feed and nurture it. After salvation you are a new creature and old things have passed away. So, the choice is clear. Mortify sin: by self-denial – not doing what you want to do, and discipline, practically and spiritually. Stay away from people, activities, places that are sinful or give rise to sinful thoughts, and cultivate your spiritual life through prayer, fellowship and the study of God’s Word. As believers, we can do so by the grace of God, and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Will you pray and ask the Lord to help you?

Thought: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)
Prayer: Lord may I hate the sin within me, repent, subdue it, and live a spiritually disciplined life.