Temptation DOING RIGHT BY NOT DOING WRONG?
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. Matt. 5:22.
One day as I was teaching a college Bible class, I noticed that two of my students on the back row were kissing. I was insulted. I was angry. I lost my temper. In the first place, I didn't think it was a very proper thing for them to do. In the second place, it reflected on my abilities as a teacher. They should have been so fascinated with my presentation that they wouldn't have had time to kiss! In my mind, I went back to where they were sitting and banged their heads together. (It wouldn't have been that easy to do--I mean, there wasn't that much room between their heads!)
However, I didn't follow through and actually do it. I was tempted. I recognized the temptation. And because I was not depending on God's power at that moment, even though I was right in the middle of teaching a Bible class, I sinned. I consented to the temptation. I thought it was a good idea. I responded to the suggestion in my mind. And I planned it. But I didn't act it. I was able to keep myself from getting violent. In fact, I controlled my temper so well that so far as I know, no one in the class ever knew that I was upset. I didn't follow through on the action because I didn't think the administration would be too impressed with my techniques if they heard about it. And I wasn't sure that it would add to the rapport with the rest of the class. But still I had sinned. In God's eyes, I had banged their heads together! I had not experienced victory, even though I was able to control my external actions.
When we talk of the necessity for victory to be internal as well as external, in order to be victory at all, we are not encouraging people to go around doing whatever they feel like doing while waiting for God to change the inside. But in a sense, this is probably not a danger anyway, because there are enough self-centered reasons for good outward behavior. If someone is strong enough, he will not choose to end up in jail or ruin his reputation, regardless of the question of victory in God's sight. But it is still important for us to realize that the only victory that is real is that which comes from within. Then we will realize our need of dependence upon Him, which comes as a result of our relationship with Him.
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. Matt. 5:22.
One day as I was teaching a college Bible class, I noticed that two of my students on the back row were kissing. I was insulted. I was angry. I lost my temper. In the first place, I didn't think it was a very proper thing for them to do. In the second place, it reflected on my abilities as a teacher. They should have been so fascinated with my presentation that they wouldn't have had time to kiss! In my mind, I went back to where they were sitting and banged their heads together. (It wouldn't have been that easy to do--I mean, there wasn't that much room between their heads!)
However, I didn't follow through and actually do it. I was tempted. I recognized the temptation. And because I was not depending on God's power at that moment, even though I was right in the middle of teaching a Bible class, I sinned. I consented to the temptation. I thought it was a good idea. I responded to the suggestion in my mind. And I planned it. But I didn't act it. I was able to keep myself from getting violent. In fact, I controlled my temper so well that so far as I know, no one in the class ever knew that I was upset. I didn't follow through on the action because I didn't think the administration would be too impressed with my techniques if they heard about it. And I wasn't sure that it would add to the rapport with the rest of the class. But still I had sinned. In God's eyes, I had banged their heads together! I had not experienced victory, even though I was able to control my external actions.
When we talk of the necessity for victory to be internal as well as external, in order to be victory at all, we are not encouraging people to go around doing whatever they feel like doing while waiting for God to change the inside. But in a sense, this is probably not a danger anyway, because there are enough self-centered reasons for good outward behavior. If someone is strong enough, he will not choose to end up in jail or ruin his reputation, regardless of the question of victory in God's sight. But it is still important for us to realize that the only victory that is real is that which comes from within. Then we will realize our need of dependence upon Him, which comes as a result of our relationship with Him.
RSS Feed
