10/30/2021
We might say “Get thee behind me Satan” when in fretful desperation we stand on the verge of yielding to temptation, but how long have we entertained the allure of that sin before we have reached this moment, and have we truly won the struggle, or does the dark one walk away having already blinded our minds, and having claimed his victory?
“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV
You see, most of our sins are brought to life within us long before we act on them; merely by dwelling on the thought of them. In those inward moments of mental struggle before yielding physically to the act, we are already lost. We deceive ourselves when we think that giving into temptation by acting on an indiscretion is the sin… no, the sin exists long before it surfaces into the light of day.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2 ESV
Jesus didn’t teach that avoiding the act of sin was the transformation that our belief would bring us, but He taught a great deal about the transformation, and renewal, of our minds. He offers himself as our example of avoidance as he responds to Satan’s temptation by immediately recalling scripture, and not giving those thoughts, those sins, a foothold from which to begin their journey towards action.
“The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’””
Luke 4:3-4 ESV
In this way Jesus did not allow that first thought to take hold, to root itself, and in Hebrews we read that He remained without sin.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
Hebrews 4:15 ESV
Our bodies are the instruments of our minds, our hearts, and spirits. Certainly we would rather not commit bodily the things we imagine, or that tempt us, but the temptation does not occur in our hand, or other body part, no, it is in our minds, hearts, and spirits, that the struggle against it is either won or lost, and by the time that our bodies are engaged in a sinful act the battle has already been lost… our sins and lawless deeds being separate, but equally able to be forgiven.
““This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.””
Hebrews 10:16-17 ESV
So how are we to resist the implanting of sin within us? How can we keep the seed of sin, those thoughts that tempt us, from reaching fertile ground within us? We do so by busying our minds on thinking good and righteous thoughts, by not allowing the sun to go down on arguments, by focusing our spirits on prayer as we converse with God, and by otherwise realizing that our thoughts will culminate in either our salvation, or our undoing.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:4-9 ESV
Have we sinned in our minds today? Have we asked forgiveness for those sins that are wandering about in supposed secret; the ones that have germinated, and are being allowed to thrive within us? Has God sent an angel to touch our hearts with a burning coal that will atone for those sins that reside there? Well, today, at this very moment, it is time for us to call out in despair, and contrition for the sin we have growing inside us. Now is the time to call out as Isaiah did when he realized his unrighteousness… his sinfulness. Now is the time to ask for help and forgiveness for our inward sin before it erupts into the world by our action.
“And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.””
Isaiah 6:5-7 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for our transformation into new creatures through our belief, and faith in Jesus Christ. Thank you for showing us mercy, and for cleansing our thoughts, and inward sinful longings of the sin they nurture, and perpetuate. Help us Lord to concentrate on those things that are good, wholesome, and righteous, and help us to use them as armament against the lies and temptations of Satan. Teach us by your Holy Spirit to open our minds and hearts to your Word, making it our armor against all sin and evil… the thoughts that undo us. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who sees our heart and convicts us of our sin before it surfaces into the world. Praised be your name for every inward sin you thwart, and for all the pain and suffering you save those around us from experiencing by so doing. Merciful are you who stays our hand from acting on those sinful thoughts, and forgiving us in secret for sins that only we know exist. Wash us clean with the blood of Jesus, not only our bodies, but our hearts, minds, spirits, and souls. Purify us of all that defiles us, all manner of sin, and seat us with you forevermore where we can worship, and honor you for all eternity.
“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
Rich Forbes