Wednesday February 9, 2011
Theme: Rethink: Desires
Weekend Music links on iTunes: All Over the World - Matt Redman, Happy Day - Tim Hughes, Lead Me to the Cross - Hillsong, I Will Follow - Chris Tomlind
Read: James 4:1-10
Think: What’s the best way to resist temptation? It helps to understand who you’re fighting. Origen, in the 3rd century AD, wanted to overcome his lustful thoughts, so he tried a form of surgery that most men couldn’t imagine. Needless to say, it wasn’t successful in stopping the lustful thoughts. Origen just didn’t understand who the real enemy was. Surgery dealt with the outward, physical issue, but the way Origen thought hadn’t changed. He had met the enemy and it was him; his thinking, his heart, his sin. It’s so easy to miss the real enemy – the enemy within.
James says we can deal with the enemy within us by using a proven method: humbling ourselves. Humble yourself before God and see God’s power released. God gives his grace to the humble, to those that know they can’t resist temptation without God’s help. Take the offensive – humble yourself. And God will exalt you.
What are the results of humbling ourselves? First, James says, it is the way to be submitted to God. When I’m submitted, He is Lord. Second, when the devil shows up, I’ll have the power to resist and he’ll flee. Oh yeah! Third, I’ll be inclined to draw nearer to God and He’ll draw closer to me. Fourth, the result of taking the offensive and humbling myself is that God will raise me up – James says He’ll exalt me.
So, how do I fight the devil? Not by maiming myself. Humble myself. And God will exalt me with His overcoming power.
Do: How effective have you been against temptation this week? What’s working? Tried humility?
Pray: Lord, today I humble myself in your mighty power. I need you. Don’t lead me into temptation, but should it come, give me your grace to defeat it.
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.