Here are some challenging thoughts that I considered as I went through this section of the Scripture:
Wiersbe writes on page 46: "We think of sin as a single act, but God sees it as a process."
Then he lays out the process of sin transitioning through four stages:
Then on page 48, he writes: “When you know the Bible, you can detect the bait and deal with it decisively.” (I.e., you can detect that the desirable thing being offered is going to lead the next statge)
This is something we continue to stress, and it is extremely important in our days when the Word of God is being set aside in favor of feelings or the like.
So here are some additional questions to ask ourselves. This is challenging because I can easily begin to not only justify my partaking in so many desirable liberties, but then when they carry me away into sin, I can also easily fall into a terrible state of blaming others, even God, for my sinful actions.
Knowing the Word of God (Jesus Christ, The Word), is one the most foundational things we can do to detect that temptation. My desire to know Him, in the context of my saving relationship with Him, will lead to Him empowering us to resist and overcome those temptations.
So in light of that first stage, "desire":
I was convicted when I considered how many things I have an affinity for; and even more convicted when I considered how much my desire for being washed by the water of the Word has waned since I first believed.
How does it happen that our desire for the things of God, and His will, grow pale in comparison to some of the activities available to us in this world, while not necessarily sinful, but have no edifying value?
Could it be that we're being conditioned by the culture around us, which suggests that we have all the time in the world; that the Lord delays his coming, and therefore there'll be plenty of time to learn more of God later?
For me, I know all too well, that this is a very real temptation in my life. But isn't that part of the next stage already - deception?
Application: How do we combat such a temptation?
This is where we must be disciplined in our keeping constant and current with God. There is no exception; there is no vacation from this. The moment we slumber spiritually, is the moment the enemy will sneak in with the temptation, and if our guard is down (if we’re not wearing the armor of God) we will FAIL!!!
So the challenge above is to evaluate every single desire we have!
Also to evaluate my current desire to know God and His Word. Is that desire it fading? Or is it growing?
If it's fading, then I need to call out to God and ask Him afresh for the desires of my heart, I.e., ask Him to put His desires there, in my heart!
I'm doing that right now! How about you?
Wiersbe writes on page 46: "We think of sin as a single act, but God sees it as a process."
Then he lays out the process of sin transitioning through four stages:
- Desire
- Deception
- Disobedience
- Death
Then on page 48, he writes: “When you know the Bible, you can detect the bait and deal with it decisively.” (I.e., you can detect that the desirable thing being offered is going to lead the next statge)
This is something we continue to stress, and it is extremely important in our days when the Word of God is being set aside in favor of feelings or the like.
So here are some additional questions to ask ourselves. This is challenging because I can easily begin to not only justify my partaking in so many desirable liberties, but then when they carry me away into sin, I can also easily fall into a terrible state of blaming others, even God, for my sinful actions.
Knowing the Word of God (Jesus Christ, The Word), is one the most foundational things we can do to detect that temptation. My desire to know Him, in the context of my saving relationship with Him, will lead to Him empowering us to resist and overcome those temptations.
So in light of that first stage, "desire":
- Do I know the Bible? If not, why not?
- Do I believe that it's really the Word of God?
- Do I understand that the Word of God is life?
- Do I desire to know it above all other things?
- Above sports and sports stats?
- Above hunting?
- Above R & R?
- Above any other thing?
I was convicted when I considered how many things I have an affinity for; and even more convicted when I considered how much my desire for being washed by the water of the Word has waned since I first believed.
How does it happen that our desire for the things of God, and His will, grow pale in comparison to some of the activities available to us in this world, while not necessarily sinful, but have no edifying value?
Could it be that we're being conditioned by the culture around us, which suggests that we have all the time in the world; that the Lord delays his coming, and therefore there'll be plenty of time to learn more of God later?
For me, I know all too well, that this is a very real temptation in my life. But isn't that part of the next stage already - deception?
Application: How do we combat such a temptation?
This is where we must be disciplined in our keeping constant and current with God. There is no exception; there is no vacation from this. The moment we slumber spiritually, is the moment the enemy will sneak in with the temptation, and if our guard is down (if we’re not wearing the armor of God) we will FAIL!!!
So the challenge above is to evaluate every single desire we have!
Also to evaluate my current desire to know God and His Word. Is that desire it fading? Or is it growing?
If it's fading, then I need to call out to God and ask Him afresh for the desires of my heart, I.e., ask Him to put His desires there, in my heart!
I'm doing that right now! How about you?