07/12/2019
When we think of sin in our life we like to attribute it to Satan, but in fact, Satan never forces us to sin... he only leads us through deception and temptation to do those things that are already common to man. The serpent didn’t force Eve to take a bite of the apple... he just lied, and tempted her, and he does the same to us. Yet much of the time we don’t need his tempting lies to fall into our sinfulness... just a small taste of our own desire!
“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, that you may be able to endure it.”
1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
All my life I have heard the expression “The devil made me do it!”, but was that really true? Well, in a way I guess it was, because he uses what is of ourselves against us. He takes what is common within us (lust, jealousy, hatred, and the like), mixes them with a lie, some desire for pleasure, a little pride, and need for power, and presto... we give into our own sinful desires. Was that Satan? Yes, because he was complicit in it, but it was more us giving into who we were all along. Jesus gave us an insight into who we are without Him when He said...
“And he said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."”
Mark 7:20-23 ESV
Satan shows us the sin within ourselves and convinces us it is pleasurable and good, but, as we just read, Jesus shows us that very same panoramic view of our sin, and tells us that it is evil, and defiles us. Sin isn’t something we learn or obtain, but rather it is something that’s in our nature from birth.
“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
Psalms 51:5 ESV
“The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.”
Psalms 58:3 ESV
Sin is to our flesh as righteousness is to our spirit; so as creatures of both flesh and spirit it is a struggle that we wrestle with our entire lives, and can’t win without the help of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. We aren’t redeemed from Satan... we are saved from sin within ourselves. Satan will pay his own penalty.
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:8-9 ESV
So we should wake up and take ownership of who we are, and decide what we are going to do about this propensity we have to sin. We are not helpless victims here... we simply must choose correctly. We can continue traveling on in the world, indulging our natural taste for sin, which is sweet on our tongue for a day, or we can take the path of righteousness that is more difficult, but satisfying, and leads to eternal peace and joy in the end. We can yield to the flesh, or aspire to the spirit... which will we choose? Will we listen to Satan as he beckons us to remain in the worldly, or Jesus as He calls us to the Divine?
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ who you sent to redeem me from death in my sins. Thank you for the choice I have been given to accept Him as my savior, and by my faith in Him to receive the full measure of your forgiveness and grace, or to remain lost in my flesh... and dying in the world. Help me Holy Father to correctly choose life in Jesus, and to walk away from my sinful nature; help me as I move ever towards righteousness, and holiness. Help me Lord in my unbelief, and open my eyes to you through the enlightenment, and work of your Holy Spirit. Teach me to realize my inbred nature of sinfulness, and to claim responsibility for my many sins... then lead me to confess, repent, and ask forgiveness for them. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God, who lifts me from my sinfulness, washes me in the blood of Christ, and seats me at your table. Praised be your name as your mercy overcomes my iniquities, and your sweet grace my bitter sinfulness. Help me Lord to walk in holiness before you so that you might be glorified forever. Here me as I worship you, and forever cry out “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord!”.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”
James 4:7-10 ESV
Rich Forbes