Mar 15 - "A Way Out"

1 Corinthians 10:13 - “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (a favorite)

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Temptation. It is all around us. Every day and in so many ways we have opportunities to make the wrong choices.

If we are being honest with ourselves, each of us realizes that we have something, that secret sin, which we carry as a burden every day. Do you like to gossip? Are you carrying hatred for someone in your heart whom you need to forgive? Has money become your idol? Is there a lie you have told, over and over again? Have you become self-centered, boastful and prideful, worshipping yourself instead of God? Is your heart full of unhealthy lust, with the images of the internet and pay TV becoming your focus? All of these things and more represent weaknesses we have as humans and there are plenty of ways these secret sins get presented to us each day. We are tempted.

Because God has given us the gift of free will, He can’t keep us from seeing those those temptations as attractive. We yearn after them at times and then act. How do we feel when we give into temptation? Not very good. We beat ourselves up, tell ourselves we are worthless.

The good news is that God does give us a way out, a means to step aside from our temptation and not be drawn in. The way out can be a simple as a compelling Spirit, speaking to us and giving us words of encouragement which manifest themselves as thoughts in our heads: “You are strong! You can resist!” The way out can come in a phone call, email or message from a friend that snaps you out of your thoughts just at the moment before they move you from temptation to sin.

In my own life, one of my biggest struggles is always having the need to bring attention to myself, having this strong desire to be the center of things. If I were to use the most dramatic words to describe this temptation, it is the desire for people to praise and worship me. This is hard to write...it feels so very dark and sinful, but it is true. Why is it a sin? It is one because it is about putting myself before God; being full of myself and not being full of the Holy Spirit; seeking praise for myself and not for God. The need may come from the position of being the oldest child and grandchild in my family, always feeling the need to be “the example”. Maybe it is because somewhere down the line I began to believe the marketing messages we are shown every day, or that I am supposed to be successful and by focusing on myself, I will be able to climb the corporate ladder, make more money, have more power and authority. Who knows?

Whenever I feel myself falling into this sin, I can hear the Holy Spirit telling me, “Be careful. Who are you really focused on?” God will typically give me the opportunity to focus on something else or show me how powerful and glorious He is. This is the way out. It’s there all of the time, I just have to be willing to set myself aside and look for the exit door He has provided for me.

So, brothers and sisters, I ask you to consider, what is your secret sin? Do you know what it is? Recognize that the best way for us to be able to set aside temptation is to be aware that it exists in the first place. When we admit it to ourselves, confess it and own up to it, we have almost won the battle. As we feel ourselves slipping into that dark place of temptation, transitioning from thought into action, look around. God has provided a light to point you to the way out. Walk towards that light and not into darkness, for He has given you the strength to do it, if we only make that choice.