SUNDAY NIGHT WITH EKURWE
18 September 2022
Proverbs 4:23 “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” (NLT)
As much as God is ready and capable of shielding us from all the damaging onslaught of the devil, we have a role to play because we are created with a choice and right to choose the master we are to be loyal to. In part one, we did mention that we should know our hearts and intentionally guard it especially in areas that we are likely susceptible to fall.
In continuation on how we are to guard our hearts to be in tune with God and in harmony with His purpose and will; we are obligated to store the heart with provisions against temptation. Because in this side of eternity, we will have the enemy of God–Satan devising restlessly schemes to lure us away from God. He knows too well that we are vulnerable when we are alone without God. Knowing the betrayal that lurks in our heart is not enough; we must make effort to store up good treasure in our hearts to draw upon in times of temptation. If Satan the prince of this world comes and find us prepared and equipped to resist him, he will not only depart but the scriptures says in James 4:7 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (NIV). For him to flee from us, the particular provision we especially need to store in our hearts is an awareness of the love of God in Christ. This is the greatest preservative in the world against the power of temptation.
In 2 Corinthians 5:14, Apostle Paul says that ‘the love of Christ compels us to live for Him’. The awareness of the love of God and who He is for us is the only powerful constraining force and the only solution to withstand temptation. Joseph had the awareness of God and His will and the love for the purpose of God was strong in him. When tempted by Potiphar’s wife, this enabled him to cry out “how then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” Genesis 39:8-10 records; “But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.” (NIV). Joseph had stored such a sense of God's love in his heart, that even such a pressing and alluring temptation to sin could not hold him. How much of the love of God and the willingness to please Him is in our hearts? That is what will carry us through the valley and shadow of temptation.
Let not be deceived that when we store up the provision of the law, the fear of death, hell and punishment, or the terror of God when grace is withdrawn will suffice. These provisions as good as they may seem and as relatively effective as they may be, there are more easily conquered. By themselves, they will never stand against a vigorous assaulting temptation, the fear does not in themselves work out enduring obedience when it not packed with love. Fear without love can stir up a struggle for a while against temptation but will not last long. Fear and faith does not function at the same time in a person’s heart. Our fear is our insecurity which at their core can be traced to our suspicion and doubt of God’s faithfulness. When the only motivation to please God is propelled by the fear of hell, over time we will get use to the horror of hell in our heart and the intensity will ease out and we will explore some escape route out the apprehension. Our heart must be accompanied by the awareness of the love of God. We need an awareness of the love of God in Christ, a knowledge of eternal purpose of His grace, a delight in the blood of Christ and His love in sacrificing for us. When we fill our hearts with a delight of the privileges gained by the death of Christ, our adoption to be joint heirs; the peace of God that is above all will guide our heart and mind.
Let us keep alert at all times and guard our hearts against what will masquerade as light to draw us away from the life of God. The process of entering into temptation may at times be very difficult to discern, because many of the things involved in the temptation may appear quiet innocent in themselves. For example, getting too busy in church and avoiding prayers or avoiding contact with Bible in real study because of your tight office schedule. It may sound genuine and looks not too wrong, but they are subtle points of detachment from the life of God.
Consider where temptation leads– to sin against God. What happen if you fall? We should plead with God again and again and not try to dress ourselves up in arrogance or denial. Hebrews 4:14-16 says; “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (NIV). Flee to Christ with godly sorrow and be confident on His faithfulness to forgive and restore. Never forget to find out how you were surprised by the temptation and take responsibility to be careful and discipline as the grace of God is not a license for carelessness.
Guard your heart with all godly attention, because the source of your spiritual life and eternal relationship with God flows from it. Amen.
Comments