“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38
When do you know you have crossed the line with sin?
I remember once hearing Dallas Willard discuss the process of sin. He explained the difference between a bad thought, temptation, and the actual sin. His teaching help clarify the process. He made us more aware to catch oneself before entering the alienation minefield. He outlined the process as three levels.
First there is the sinful thought that enters your mind. This is not sin. This is only the idea or concept. The question is what will you do with the thought.
If the thought is not removed, then the person will begin to move into the temptation level. This is where your thought meets the inclination to perform. You haven’t completed the act, but you are now leaning toward the possibility. The moment of truth has arrived for a decision. Will you or will you not? This is what temptation is.
If your character and spiritual formation is strong, you will likely choose wisely. The temptation will only be a temporary lure. You know the ugliness of sin and will refrain from the enticement. What we may not realize at first is sin also lives within our habits. We have unbeknownst in most cases trained our habits to sin. This is why we need to put into practice regular means of grace.
But if you are weak and unprepared with little character strength, what then? For sin is when you act out your thought and inclination. It is sin even if you don’t perform the deed but would do so if the conditions were right. This is why Jesus said if you had lust in your heart you have already committed the sin. The challenge is to train oneself in godliness. To have the willpower to push yourself away from the temptation. And humanity apart from God fails at it.
One needs to be born again with the Spirit of God to regenerate the heart. Then pursue a life of sanctification. This is the process to transform the human spirit and will after the likeness of Jesus Christ. This path is a high adventure with failures and successes. As we put forth the effort, God supplies us with HIS grace in the areas we are currently failing at. But over time, as we lean more and more on HIM, the inner soul is being modified after the character of Jesus himself. And we don’t take credit for the success. For we know it is only because of the grace from God we succeed.
Yes, this is a long process. But we know we are HIS workmanship. So whatever failure and successes we experience is a reflection of our weakness or HIS glory. But it requires our cooperation. If we keep failing, is it because we are not cooperating with HIM? Do we need to do more business with HIM? Or don’t we understand the life of a disciple of HIS? But then again, maybe you are becoming more like HIM than you realize. You may have higher expectations of yourself than God has of you. Maybe HE is working on something else. All this while you are struggling with what you consider more important. Only time will tell. Meanwhile, focus on Jesus. Learn from HIM. Integrate all you learn into your everyday life. And watch as God grows you into HIS masterpiece.
And yes, it helps when you know where the red-line is in your choices.
Rooting For You in Christ!
Dr. Mike
Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler
“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)
Books By Dr. Mike:
- Power Up With Jesus Book Series- Aspirations for a Grace-Paced Life!
- The Adventurous Journey of Transformation in Christ
- Overflowing Prayers Rooted in Jesus Christ v1 & v2
- Dancing With God: A Life-Giving Worldview
- Great Business Emulates a Good God
- Stay Free…Avoid Worldly Traps
- Simply The Messenger
- Unequally Married
Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!
Radical In Christ 