This podcast episode focuses on the critical topic of resisting temptation, emphasizing that everyone faces challenges in this area, including myself. I share insights drawn from C.S. Lewis, who highlights that understanding temptation is essential for resistance. We discuss the biblical assurance from 1 Corinthians 10:13, which promises that God provides a way out of every temptation we encounter. I encourage listeners to reflect on their identities in Christ, reminding them that they are no longer defined by their past sins but by their new life in Jesus. By focusing on this new identity, we can better navigate the temptations we face daily.
Takeaways:
In this episode, we explore the concept of temptation and how to resist it effectively.
C.S. Lewis emphasizes that only those who resist temptation understand its strength and nature.
As Christians, we are new creations in Christ, which empowers us to overcome our old temptations.
We must identify ourselves with our new identity in Christ rather than our past sins.
Hi, welcome to the Hobo Soul podcast of road advice from the Bible and from me, Yvon Prehn, someone who's a little further down the road of life. I'll talk to you every weekday for about five to 10 minutes, with periodic longer talks on serious Saturdays.
Let's get started with our topic today, which is Lenten Devotion number 16, how to resist temptation. Or try Anyway,
On today's topic of temptation, all of us need all the help we can get, me included, who caves in at the mere suggestion of a goodie,I'm trying to give up for Lent.
Today's quote from C.S. lewis has a rather interesting take on this topic. And here it is. Here's what he says.
"A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. That's an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is.
A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people in one sense know very little about badness. They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in."
Now, here's my challenge for today.
"What would it be like to resist a temptation that you easily give into?
God says he'll always provide a way to his, and I imagine we might take it more if we thought ahead of time what those escapes might look like"
So let's look at this in a little more detail.
e for us is First Corinthians:
I like to look up verses in other translations as they give us additional insight into them.
And I'm going to be reading you the verse in the Phillips translation in just a minute, but there's just a little bit of historical trivia here that if you didn't know it, I think it is kind of interesting. J.B. phillips, the author of this translation, was actually one of the drinking buddies of C.S. Lewis.
It was a group of extraordinary scholars who would meet in the English pubs to have what I would imagine were some of the most profoundly fun and fantastic conversations ever. By the way, J.R.R. tolkien, the author of the Lord of the Rings, was also part of this group. What we wouldn't give to have Sat in on some of those.
But now back to the Phillips translation. C.S. lewis actually wrote the forward to the first edition, and I got one of those when I was in college, and I still have that today.
That's one of the treasures of my library. But let's return to our devotion now. And here is what the verse says in the Phillips translation.
"It says, no temptation has come your way that is too hard for flesh and blood to bear. But God can be trusted not to allow you to suffer any temptation beyond your powers of endurance.
And he will see to it that every temptation has a way out so that it will never be impossible for you to bear it."
If we believe the word of God is true, and I believe it is, and he says that no temptation is beyond our power to resist, and there is always a way out. Question is, why don't we take it?
I think the answer has nothing to do with the moment of temptation itself, but with who we are and who we trust and how we identify ourselves prior to the temptation. CS Lewis said, bad people know very little about it because they simply give in. And the thing is, they don't have any reason not to give in.
But we do. When we trust in Jesus, we aren't identified with our old self anymore. A verse worth repeating is 2nd Corinthians 5:17.
I've talked about this before and I'll probably talk about it again. But where it says, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come, the old is gone, the new is here.
Again, another translation is helpful where in the message it says, we look inside and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new, the old life is gone. A new life emerges. When we become a Christian, are a Christian, we're new. And I think this newness is a constantly growing thing.
We don't just become new and then we go back to our old ways or whatever. No, like a healthy plant, we're constantly growing, sending out new leaves and flowers. We continue and continue to grow as followers of Jesus.
And that new self does not need to give in to the temptations that govern the life of the old self, the self that died when we became alive to Jesus. We need to to remind ourselves that old life is dead. And the new me in Jesus wants me to be the best I can to serve him well.
When that's my focus, it gives me an entirely different reason to avoid a temptation rather than simply gritting my teeth and ignoring the sweets that I know will add weight and not eat the gluten that makes my joints ache. I know if I eat too much, eat too badly, too often, I won't have the energy to do the writing and the teaching that I love to do for Jesus.
Our new identity and remembering who we are in Jesus and the joy of being able to serve him well is the best defense against temptation there is.
Again, when I want to eat too much or not exercise or drink what I shouldn't, I can remind myself that I want to be a vibrant, healthy, strong follower of Jesus. I focus on the positive and I move toward that.
I don't want to be overly negative here, but for just a moment, I must bring up a caution and concern I have about recovery programs. Now, my concern is that, in sum, when people introduce themselves, they do it in this way.
They say, hi, I'm whatever my name is, and I am whatever my sin is that brought me here.
Now, I don't think that's a good idea, because that person, the alcoholic, the sex addict, the overeater, the drug addict, whatever, is not who you are in Jesus. That's who you used to be. It's not who you are now. Now, please understand, you don't need to make a big deal out of it.
If you feel you have to say that in the group, that's. That's just fine. But I'd encourage you, if you're in one of those groups, and I greatly encourage all kinds of recovery groups if you need them.
But I would encourage you to say in your heart, even if you can't say it out loud, I used to be that. But praise Jesus, I am not identified with my sin any longer. I'm identified with Jesus. No one resisted temptation in the same way Jesus did.
He resisted.
After 40 days of fasting, when his flesh was consuming itself, he resisted a direct attack from Satan, promising him a shortcut to everything he knew was. Was rightfully his. He resisted.
After three years of people not believing what he told them and showed them incredible love and patience even when they deserted him, when he most needed them.
And finally, he could have called 10,000 angels who could have broken the cross, incinerated every soldier with a touch, and carried him away unscathed from the crowd screaming for his blood. But he didn't. He resisted. And it is Jesus himself who is the escape that is always there for us. Keep your eyes on him.
That's all for this podcast, for transcripts, links to related material, and much more to help you learn to know, trust, apply and teach the Bible, go to www.bible805.com for now, let me end with this benediction and prayer.
May you walk each day surrounded by the gracious love of the Father, guided by the gentle wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and conscious of the astoundingly real presence of Jesus, who will walk with you until you're no more a hobo soul, no more a transient, wandering heart, but at home in the kingdom prepared for you with your God forever. Amen.
