Temptation a force to be harnessed.

Our featured author became a monk in an Augustinian monastery at 19 and died there at age 91. A grand age for anyone, but particularly notable in the 15th century. In life, his days were not especially eventful but Thomas a Kempis lived a deep and rich spiritual life. He is best known for his editing of Gerhard Groote's diary The Imitation of Christ.

Our topic this week looks at the temptations in our life. His opening comment is "our life on earth is warfare" acknowledging Job, but establishing a lens through which he wishes to offer as a framework. I really love this because it is a perspective that is not often preached these days but is so valid. We do have an enemy who is out kill and destroy us, but in a corporate sense we largely ignore that fact. It comes back to ourselves at the simplest level. The lowest common denominator in God's army is the individual and how you and I walk our lives. Thomas acknowledges that no one is so holy that they do not have to deal with temptation. His question is, is  that a bad thing? He suggests not!

The lowest private in this army to the greatest general will be beset with temptation it will probably be different but it is still there. Is this bad .......not necessarily, but it is painful and difficult ..................... probably. This temptation can teach us, it can cleanse us and it will humble us! This is all part of the journey as we fight against our inborn "fallen nature" in the journey towards becoming more like Jesus Christ.

Our temptations reveal who we are whether we like it or not. They reveal the lack of stability in our thought life and how much or little trust in God. This gives us a reality that is useful if we can harness it to go forward and win our little battles "one day at a time" as the name of this blog series suggests. As one challenge is overcome another will take its place, but you are stronger and smarter each time. As you win and the things that were your weaknesses now become your strengths. Your liabilities now become your opportunities to take ground for the Kingdom of God.

In an age where ease is sort after...........anything that is faster, is easier, or  saves time.  In our instant world Thomas's type of thinking is not popular truth. Thomas would suggest as you and I withdraw from the world and overcome the lower delights of worldly things the more spiritual consolation you will be given. I was  talking to a person I know, when he said something quite profound to me and a few others. He said this is part of our problem is that we talk  of be made of body, soul and spirit and that is the way think and do life. In reality we need to look at this as Spirit, soul and body because what we put first is most important. We will not live eternally as body or soul ................................we will be spirit. We must begin to operate eternally!! In the spirit!!

From this we can see that temptation is to allow us to bring our body and soul under the authority of the spirit. That is the only way to win the war is to be in the spirit as Paul urges  us. We do not war against flesh and blood, but (spiritual) principalities and powers. If we stay with body and soul, we tie our hands behind our back and expect to win against temptation. Paul urges us to do what? Pray in the spirit at all times. We must start to operate as spiritual being. I have strayed a distance from what Thomas a Kempis wrote. but I believe this is key if we wish to survive the battleground we are on, let alone win on it. We must untie our hands and fight as God intended in the spirit, and with HIS Spirit. 

Temptation as Thomas points out is a good indicator of where we are. BUT IT IS NOT THE FINAL WORD! No matter where you are today, you plus the Spirit of God is a majority. You can overcome your besetting temptation with the weapons (Check out Ephesians 6) he has provided and other members of his army who are in the trench next to you. Help is near as your phone ask another brother or sister in your platoon to join you in you struggle.

See you on the battlefront next week!
Paul