I thought I'd post some thoughts from our Sunday School class yesterday on "The Seduction of Self-Talk" for those who couldn't attend, and for those who did and would like some notes. We looked at where sinful self-talk began, right where all sin began, in the Garden of Eden. In Genesis 3, we see Satan offering several new thoughts to Eve's unsullied mind:
- doubt ("Did God really say you are not to eat of the tree?")
- dismay that God might have lied to her ("Surely you will not die!)
- and, along with it, hope that there are no consequences to our sin
- complaints that God is keeping something good from her ("For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened")
- and a wild expectation that she can be like God ("and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.")
Yes, truly she ate and gained a knowledge of good and evil, one that would have been better left unknown. In reality, in her knowing she became a slave: to her passions, her hungers, her emotions, "passing [her] days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another." (Titus 3:3) And where was Satan after she ate? He had slithered away to craft the next part of his plan: making her awash in guilt and remorse. Isn't it just like our enemy to make us disobey the One who loves us immeasurably, and then to mercilessly beat us up when we do?
And where was God? He was not ignorant of these wicked goings-on. There was an animal being slain at that moment, blood being shed, that the nakedness of our newly-shamed first parents might be covered. For "mercy triumphs over judgment"! (James 2:13b)
Which of your enemy's whispers resonates through your life? Are you doubting God's goodness to you? Do you think God is keeping some good thing from you? Do you whine about the hardness of His good plans for your life? Do you think there will be no consequences to your actions? We must examine ourselves and see where we are believing lies in our deepest thoughts.
Then run to the cross to deposit those lies at our Savior's feet, for Scripture says that "they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony . . . " (Revelation 12:11). Satan wants to draw us away from the Savior's love for us by accusing us day and night. We must be diligent to repel him by running to the very Love from which he is keeping us. Elyse Fitzpatrick offers this rebuke to the enemy: "I do sin and sin grievously, but Jesus Christ was slain as a perfect lamb in my place. Thank you for reminding me of my sin because, although it grieves me, it also reminds me to love [my Jesus] more."
We repent at the foot of the Cross, and then lift our voices in praise to the living God who has said loud and clear: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)
Blessed are those who dwell in Your house, ever singing Your praise! (Psalm 84)
Thanks for this helpful post. It reminded me of
ReplyDeletea reflection I read recently regarding our response when tempted by something that seems to be a small offence against God, something that one might think would not result in any bad consequences. I may try to convince myself this is such a small matter, that certainly God won't care because of its relative insignificance. The reading pointed out that, if it is just a small matter, there is even less reason to commit it. Why would I be unfaithful to my great God for a little thing? My disobedience, even in small matters, offends God, who gave his Son's life for me.
That's really good. What a great way to think of those little sins that are so easy to commit, and so justifiable, or so we think. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteJean