“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”** John 15:5-8 (NIV)**
One of the greatest errors flesh can make is not heeding the warnings of God found in His Word (which He never goes against, BTW). And many do so boldly and proudly – puffed up like no one can take them down. Yet, sadly, they will be found singing proudly “I did it my way” all the way to the pit of Hell. It is not mankind’s to choose to do it our way rather His. We are not our own and we have been bought at the highest price by the blood of Jesus. Further, the great Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV): “For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” Why, indeed?
We can also make the mistake of running towards temptations rather than fleeing from them. We do not consider the danger - how weak we are in the flesh and how strong and fortified our great adversary is. He is not our friend, to say the least, and delights to see us fall. We must not flatter ourselves by toying with temptation, thinking we are above falling and placing ourselves in situations where we are prone to. We can be quite weak. Many things lie dormant in our hearts waiting for the opportunity to rise when temptation strikes. Quiet lusts can quickly become disquiet arguing internally until the lust is killed or satisfied. We must not flatter ourselves rather flee the temptation as Joseph did with Potipher’s wife. God will always show us the door of escape when we are looking for it. Plead with Him to pull you by the hair through it as sin is never our friend. Remember we fall into sin but holiness must be a pursuit.
We are woefully mistaken if we believe mere flesh can continually withstand the power of temptation. If we play with fire we are going to get burned, eventually. Our reasonings and objections quickly become overpowered and quieted – putting to death our former convictions. When even the “greats” deny the Master – those such as Peter, how much more so the weakest saint. We are to beware of our own hearts as they are deceitful beyond cure, as the Scriptures tell us in Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NIV): The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? ‘I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.’” If we are Christians we are to live like one out of love for the One who died for us.
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.** Psalms 19:9-11 (NIV)**