It All Starts in the Mind

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          The next thing I knew, I was in his arms.

            I couldn’t help myself, it was there, and I put it in my pocket.

            It all happened so suddenly.

            I didn’t realize.

            After I tried it once . . . .

Excuses for sin.

(Oh yeah, we’re not supposed to call it “sin.” We might offend someone. What’s the politically correct word for sin, anyway?)

Did you know that the Bible says that sin is a process?

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death (James 1:14-15).

Lust (being tempted mentally) leads to Sin (action). 

When Eve sees the fruit and listens to the serpent, the process unfolds: And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat (Genesis 3:6). Eve reasons in her mind that the fruit looks good, she believes the serpent’s lie that it will make her wise. This is the temptation stage. Then, she reaches out, tries it, and gets Adam to go along with her sin. (To be fair to Eve, the Bible says she was genuinely deceived, and Adam fully understood what he did. 1 Timothy 2:14)

Read these other instances:

• Anger and Homicide—Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca (a strong form of “fool”), shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire (Matthew 5:21-22).
• Adultery—But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart (Matthew 5:28).
• Homosexuality—And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet (Romans 1:27).
• Fornication—For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5).
• Anarchy—But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities (2 Peter 2:10).

Do you see the progression? A thought entertained in the mind becomes a plan of action, leading to sin.

The good news is that there’s a way to deal with sin before it becomes a plan or action.

Everyone is tempted in his thoughts. It’s how he deals with it that matters. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

What is this “escape plan”? It’s abiding with God in the Holy Spirit. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).

Why should we want to go against our desires and resist thinking about and doing wrong? It’s because we want to please God. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever (1 John 2:16-17).

And, if we think we’re good, that’s just the moment when we should be most on guard. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall (1 Corinthians 10:12).

A Plan of Attack: 

1. Dismiss the temptation at once, when the thought enters your mind.
2. Substitute good thoughts. Meditate on the goodness of God, thank God for blessings, go over pertinent Scripture in your mind. You’ll soon forget that first interest in sin.
3. Renew your mind. The best way is to fill your mind with the Word of God. When your meditation is on what God thinks, it will change how you think. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee (Psalm 119:11).
4. Think of the long-term consequences of sin. Do you really want to be divorced? Do you really want to pick up an STD? Do you really want to go to prison? Do you really want to die early? Of course not.
5. Determine to glorify God in everything you do. Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

The Verse That Keeps Me Going

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I was in high school when I was first exposed to the idea. Some pastors and Christian leaders shared their “life verses,” and it occurred to me that I didn’t have one. I mean, I’d never thought about it, never chosen one Bible verse over another, and I really hadn’t ever looked for a theme for my life—or whatever a life verse was supposed to be.

I can’t remember how long it took for me to find it, but when I got to know this verse, I claimed it as my own.

Let me give you some background. When I was a teen, I had lots of friends and a fun church youth group. Inside, I was insecure and fearful. I’m sure my parents must have had reservations when I left for college.

Here’s my life verse. It’s still the one I fall back on when things aren’t easy or clear. When I’m called upon to do something that isn’t in my comfort zone, when I am physically sick or hurting, this is the verse I go to for the task at hand:

Faithful is he that calleth you,

who also will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

This verse starts with God’s faithfulness. What a concept! No matter what happens, God is always faithful. It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Then, it speaks of God’s call on one’s life. What is this call? It might speak of His call for salvation: No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:44). Or it might speak of a life calling, a purpose, or a job. No matter the Christian, he has been called to glorify God in everything he does: For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s (1 Corinthians 6:20).

For me, my life calling came when I was seventeen. My answer—after two weeks of grappling with God—was the same as Isaiah’s prayer, Here am I; send me (Isaiah 6:8b). As you know, I am serving the Lord overseas in Spain. He sent.

Back to my life verse: Faithful is he that calleth you. I’ve proved that over and over! From my teen years to my grandma years, God is always faithful. He called me, sent me, and He is always faithful.

Who also will do it. The emphasis of this verse is on God. He is faithful, He calls, He does it. He doesn’t really need us—as if God could need anything. He chooses to empower us! Talk about grace . . . . I love this passage which speaks of God’s choosing and why: For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).

So, as one of those foolish things, I rejoice in God’s calling, in God’s enabling, and in God’s power in my life.

I glory in the Lord.

Faithful is He that called me, who also does it.

(My personal testimony paraphrase.)