Friday, May 3, 2013

Fighting the Temptation to Live My Way


            For some figuring out which of these topics fits our personal life or ministry is going to be easier than for others (like me). As I read through Anderson’s book there was a ton of material that stood out to me and my best effort would have to be ironically in choosing to be from chapter nine tempted to do it my way. I often have moments where some decisions are very spontaneous and others are long and drown out. The truth that lies behind both of them is the fact that I want to be the one in control of the outcome. According to Anderson “every temptation is an enticement to live independently of God.”[1] With that being said there is truth to behind it because we often think we can take better care of ourselves than God.
            The best way to change that is to live in a deep understanding of what Paul wrote, “All things are lawful for me but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. (1 Cor. 6:12).  After gaining that understanding and knowing that while in Christ we have liberty we also need to know how to moderate things so that the devil cannot get a foothold. Because, “he’s watching you too, looking for soft spots of vulnerability in your physical appetites for food, rest, comfort, and sex. Temptation is greatest when hunger, fatigue, and loneliness are acute.”[2] So once we take care of covering our front, back and sides, we eliminate the chance to give up to our lusts.
            It is easy to deceive ourselves or to even be deceived by Satan, when we take what should be a good thing and elevate it to a place of power in our lives. When we continually choose to serve ourselves and not seek God and the plan He has in store for us we actually are giving ground to the enemy, because if he can get us to stop pursing God, he is almost as happy as if he got us to sin. Anderson proclaims, “You may think you are serving yourself, but whenever you stop worshipping and serving God you are in reality worshipping and serving Satan—which is what he wants more than anything else.”[3] So as long as we can keep our focus continually on God and truly do things that are in service to Him, we do not allow ourselves to become victims of idolatry.


[1] Neil T.Anderson, The Bondage Breaker. (Eugene: Harvest House, 2000)136.
[2] Ibid., 141.
[3] Ibid.,144.