As we grow and mature in our relationship with God, we constantly face situations, people, and encounters that cause us to be shaken into retreat or activated into a deeper pursuit. I believe there are two areas every “adulting believer” has to conquer – temptation and persecution.
Temptation
This will come in many forms and in many ways. In affluent societies, we’re tempted by material goods, the desire to satisfy our flesh, and the desire for power. These things can easily take the place of God in our lives. When tempted, scripture says, no one should say they’re being tempted by God, for God is not tempted by evil and He Himself does not tempt anyone (James 1:13-15). This same passage goes on to say that we’re tempted when we pursue our desires.
It is, therefore, simple. It is direct. It is clear that whatever tempts us, is driven from within. Our own desires find an unhealthy connection with sinful elements of this world and draw us into sin. Our work as believers must therefore be to deal with our desires. You can tempt me with a medium well done, juicy steak but you’ll have to work hard to get me to respond to a plate full of crab legs. What I desire is what I respond to.
When I work to control my desires, I am able to overcome the tempter and the temptation brought before me.
It’s interesting that our desires, turned towards God, produce a temptation towards holy things. These are the things that draw us and cause us to desire more of God. The bible says that Jesus had nothing in Him and therefore it is why He could not give in to temptation. Yet He was tempted and drawn to Godly things by the Godly desires that were in Him.
Let there be nothing in us when the tempter comes.
Persecution
Our persecution – in the western world – pales in comparison to what people in other nations face. We hear of Chinese believers and underground churches that have to do all they can to hang onto the words of the bible. We hear of Communist nations where they have to change their reference to God, Jesus, and the church, because it’s a crime to mention those things. We hear of early believers, who were willing to go to their own death while preaching the word rather than forsake the Gospel.
Then we hear of ourselves – believers living in nations established on Christian values. What’s our persecution? We face mockery, ridicule, arguments, disdain, anger, and threats at times, but nothing much more than that. At worst we’ll have friends and family members that hate our guts yet still have us over for Christmas and Thanksgiving. This is our persecution. We have it much easier and maybe we’re worse off than those for whom it is more difficult.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t pray for or ask for persecution. In fact, I want to see more of the world freed up to worship God freely and uninhibited. On the other hand, I want to have the same passionate desire for the Gospel that those who live in deep persecution have.
Adulting Believers
Adulting believers must endure persecution, in all forms, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of their faith. That’s adulting as believers.
Adulting believers also need to face and endure temptation just like Jesus did when the devil tempted Him. That’s adulting as believers.
I pray that all believers will face temptation and endure persecution as good soldiers in the Kingdom of God. We’re all in this together, figuring out how to adult as Christians the best we can.
Nelson Masinde 