Day 17 - Watching for the Approach of Temptation

Part of resisting temptation is keeping watch to see it coming before it arrives. We want to actively be on guard and look to see when temptation is coming our way so that we are not surprised. We want to meet temptation at its first appearance and first attack so that we can resist and repulse it. Owen gives us three helpful directions on how to do watch for temptations first approach.

To begin, we must always be alert, always looking to see how temptation may attack us so that we can identify temptations early and take the battle to temptation rather than temptation bringing the battle to us. Having this hyperawareness of temptation is key for, as Owen puts it, "temptations approaching through something neutral...are particularly hard to discern." That is, the means of temptation may at first look to be harmless and we don't recognize what it is. This presents a particular danger, a Trojan horse of sorts, where temptation walks into our lives without us realizing it. Thus, we must always be alert and on guard against it.

To truly understand what the temptation is about, you have to consider what it seeks to accomplish. At the heart of every temptation are two "active agents:"
We must be aware that our own sinful lusts seek the worst of evils; thus Paul says of his struggle with his own sinfulness, "I do the very thing I hate." (Rom 7:15) Thus, we must be aware the depths of our own battle with sin in our lives. This is not passing or trivial danger. Our sinful lusts ultimately seek to lead us to our own spiritual death. (Rom 6:23)

Similarly, Satan seeks out our destruction; he seeks out to devour us. (1 Pet 5:8) And he does this by ultimately seeking to attack our "interest in the gospel." That is, Satan seeks to convince us that really Christ is of no help to us and that we have no real interest, no real security, no real hope in the gospel because our sin has disqualified us from the blessings and benefits of the gospel. If Satan can convince us of that, then we will readily give ourselves over to our own sinful lusts, for what hope would we then have?

Thus, it is essential that we face every temptation from the beginning remembering the gospel. We must never doubt the absolute assurance that the death of Christ on the cross paid for our every sin and freed us from our sinful nature. Christ has truly freed us (John 8:36) to no longer be slaves to sin but slaves of God and righteousness. (Rom 6:18,22) Remembering the cross of Christ is "taking up the shield of faith" (Eph 6:16) so that we can resist temptation especially those that come from Satan's attacks.

How seriously do you take temptation? Are you always on guard to watch out for its approach? Do you understand what it is seeking to accomplish through using your sinful lusts and through the attacks of Satan? Are you bearing the shield of faith, the shield of remembering the cross of Christ and what he has secured and accomplished in His death? Remember to practice these three directions so that you will be able to engage and resist temptation at first sight.