Hey every christian EVER! If you say that you are not tempted to sin you're not being honest with yourself. Human nature is sin nature therefore as long as we are in these human bodies and live in this sinful world we will be tempted with sin.The longer we walk as Christians it is easy for us to think that we should not struggle with the temptations of our sins that we were set free from in salvation. That is foolishness! Hear me out! We were set free from being slaves to sin yes. Sin is the action but it does not say that we will be set free from temptation to sin. Christ was even tempted. We are not greater than our savior so if he was tempted you best believe that we will be too.
I have been encouraged by 2 Corinthians 12 this is where Paul talks about his “thorn” and we know that this was a metaphorical thorn this was not a physical sharp object in his hip but a spiritual sharpness that kept him “from being conceited”. I think a lot of times we wonder why we still have to deal with theses temptations that life would be so much easier, ministry would be so much easier, loving people will be so much easier without it but I think that is a lie. Hear me out I felt the same way before studying 2 Corinthians 12 for a week but there is humility in knowing that you will ALWAYS need God. If we think about it do we really believe that if we didn't deal with temptation that we would be able to love people the way we are called to love them? It is hard for some us to love unbelievers because we quickly forget that we were in their shoes not too long ago imagine not being tempted we would forget that we are imperfect humans just like all of humanity. The reason why we can empathize and reach people that are in sin is because we get sin on an intimate level because we have experienced sin and the devastation of it and we are constantly dealing with the temptation to fall back into sin the life that we are free from. There is humility in being reminded that you don't have it together and when we know that we can reach people because we will come to them pleading from a place that gets where they are and understands that without the Holy Spirit keeping us we would be right back there.
This is clear in verse 7 Paul explains that the “thorn” keeps him from becoming conceited. How true is that sis? When God is taking you up into newer and greater things and then you are reminded by your thorn that you are still in need of God no matter how famous or successful you get. It's almost weird to say but our thorns are a gift to us. God loves us and he knows that pride leads to destruction so because he loves us he give is a thorn in our side (temptation is not completely removed from our lives).
What are you tempted by? Knowing is a strength. Spend time in introspection and prayer asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the temptations in your life because they may not always be obvious. Once you know than it gives you an advantage because you will not be caught off guard when temptation comes you can start fighting with the Word or things that you have already set in place as barriers.
Don't be discouraged though! It is natural for us to experience discouragement as we encounter this truth that we will be always be tempted maybe not always by the same things but we will always experience a degree of temptation. Here are a few ways we can guard our hearts from discouragement
Know that you have the strength in you to resist sin
“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin, because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.” (Romans 6:6-7)
Does this mean that you will be perfect? No, but it tells us that we have the strength in us by The Holy Spirit to resist sin and no longer have the experience we once had with literally not being able to stop sinning no matter how much you wanted to.
There is blessing in our thorns
The blessing is that we are humbled by it. Humility doesn't feel good all the time but it is a blessing nonetheless. It's a weird concept to break down but having something that constantly brings us to Christ is something that I would consider a blessing. We cannot forget God when we have a thorn. Our thorns cause us to go to God and get on our knees knowing that whatever he is doing in us is ALL Him and nothing of our strength.
Know there will be suffering and embrace it
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)
It may not feel good now but look forward to the glory set before you.
Know when your are most tempted
This keeps you from being as discouraged because when you know when you are tempted you can be proactive to avoid those situations. This is like an army when they know that their opponents will attack at 2 am they don't sit there playing games at 2 they are ready to fight. Be ready to fight!
My Prayer for you:
Father I thank you for who you are. Thank you that you love us enough to tear down lies in our lives. Lord I pray that we would realize that we will always be tempted but I pray that it does not discourage us but that we would take courage in the fact that you love us and that you have given us the strength we need. I pray that we would see our thorns as a blessing because it draws us near to you and because it allows us to empathize with other image bearers of you. Lord I pray for my sister reading this that she would be proactive with her temptation. Lord I pray that she would be honest with herself and you about the temptation she faces and that she would set up barriers with women in her life that she trusts to keep her accountable. Holy Spirit I pray that you would reveal to us the things that don't glorify you. Thank you Jesus that you have freed us from sin! Thank you for your obedience and sacrifice. Amen
