Friday, 10 October 2008
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Sexual Tempation: Does Jesus Understand What We're Going Through?
Temptations: those situations where we know it's wrong and inwardly we still want to do it anyway, so we have to make a choice- to do right or wrong.
As I have said before, I usually do the right thing, even in my rebellious stages, I don't think I strayed too drastically. It was one of my so called "good" characteristics -until God revealed to me not too long ago that it makes me judgemental and less compassionate toward those who "fail".
Also, in lieu of this enlightenment, I've also realized that I'm not as perfect as I would have hoped. Seeing as I have rededicated my life to Christ earlier this year and I have written about the importance of not compromising before, I believe it's important for all of you to know that I have been on both sides of the good girl/bad girl fence.
I, as well as others, have a whole laundry list of sins that need to be dealt with eventually -gossiping, being mean to people on occasion, a bad word here and there, impatience, to name a few -but the biggie for a lot of us is the issue of sexual integrity.
I held on to the belief for quite some time that I needed to wait until I got married to have sex; but needless to say, I have fallen by the wayside throughout the years. Although I have had extended periods of abstinence, I am always tempted to fall into the same bad habits.
At the time I thought my abstinence was an attempt to regain self preservation and purity -now I wonder if it was forced due to a lack of companionship. In the past, when I fell into my "sin traps" I gave up and stopped trying to serve God because it seemed to be useless -I seemed to be destined to live in damnation.
When I rededicated my life to God in January, I also received the privilege of getting to know Him in a new way. Unlike the vengeful, wrathful God who I learned about in my youth, I'm realizing that God is also merciful. True mercy is compassion even when we don't deserve it.
At the same time, I know that it is important to live a life that's pleasing to Him as well -so while I know He doesn't hate me and isn't about to strike me down, I also know that He would be disappointed in me if I continuously allowed myself to be tempted in this manner.
Most preachers/teachers say that Jesus is able to understand our temptations because He, himself, was tempted -but I haven't seen any references of Jesus being tempted by sexual impurity. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
Do you think Jesus ever struggled with sexual impurity? How do you fight sexual temptations?
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Comments (37)
@charmaineiscool@xanga - you are so right!
I do believe that Jesus was just as susceptible to sexual temptation as anyone else; however, I just don't think Jesus was as prone to struggle with it as many others. His ultimate goal and purpose in life was to serve God by sacrificing his life; the biggest temptation for Him was to fall away from The Father.
Our culture is so saturated in sex that of course sexual temptation is a bigger issue than it would have been for the Messiah. But frankly I just don't think sexual temptation is as big a deal as we make it out to be. I think that because some people struggle with it more strongly than others they assume everyone else does (and fails) too -- and can't imagine how someone else might not struggle (and fail). I have my own temptations, but sexual impurity just isn't one of them -- so I guess I've never seriously considered the question of how, or whether or not, Jesus might have struggled, too.
@ih8censorship@xanga - there's a line between lust and admiration of beauty
that is very true and i think that line is blurred in modern-day society. thanks for your comment, it sheds a new light on the subject!
Jesus ate with prostitutes....
As many people have said, the Bible does state that Jesus suffered temptations of every kind.
I know most of you don't believe in the Book of Mormon; but it has a passage that talks about this and the first time I read it it touched me quite a bit. This passage is found in Alma 7:11-13
"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word bight be fulfilled which saith he will take kupon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
And he will take upon him death, that he may loos the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to thier infirmities.
Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might tak upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold this is the testimony which is in me."
This passage explains very well, I think, the extent Christ went through so that he could help us. Not only did he suffer for the sins WE commited so we wouldn't have to, but he suffered temptations and pains of every kind so that no matter what we were going through we'd have someone to turn to; and he'd know how to comfort us.
Sexual temptation is one of the hardest things, I think. We are bombarded by sexual images every day. It's going to be the downfall of our society, I'm sure. One way I've found that helps keep your thoughts clean, therefore preventing any acts youll regret, is to hum your favorite hymn or recite your favorite scripture when the temptation enters your head.
I think he faced that temptation but didn't sin (of course).
@mamma_sez - That's a good point, and I'll agree. However, I do think that there is something missing from the experience without the sin aspect. Could Jesus have felt the shame and guilt etc. that goes along with sexual temptation (even if it isn't given into exactly)? I realize that it's not really possible to grasp the understanding of being human and God, but there are certain things that I just can't see Jesus being able to experience as a human.
I think Jesus DID get tempted by the Devil. But the fact is that he didn't "struggle" with temptation - he was too holy.
I really appreciate posts like this - eloquently written and personal. It's like a burden has been lifted off of my chest to know that another out there is struggling like I am, and is ultimately overcoming.
I can completely relate. Sometimes I wonder is waiting worth it. But as I have continued dating I've realized that many guys cannot take waiting and that to me signifies that they are not the right person for me. I think Jesus was tempted while he was here. I swear though trying to do the right thing is difficult sometimes.
It clearly says that Jesus also struggled with this temptation, along with many other temptations that we, as humans, struggle with.
For me, I have high standards and have actually refused to even kiss my fiance all of our relationship, because I don't want to be sexually tempted. I'm not saying it is a bad thing to kiss your boyfriend, that is just how I've dealt with it. I try to honor God by staying pure till I'm married. Sexual temptation is one of few things I actually can say I've so far accomplished, but there are many other things I've failed in.
If you rely on God to help you, He will. For example, go and read 1 Corinthians 10:13.
Thank you for your post, it will certainly help me on my way to Heaven
to be with my Mother and Father forever.
I believe that Jesus was tempted sexually, but because he gave himself
wholly to the Father in Heaven in obedience, he got the strenght and courage
not to give in to any temptations.
If only we were all like this!
@lackadaesical@xanga - The difference between Jesus sinning in the sense of looking at a woman and sinning, and looking at a woman and not sinning, would be a simple answer, Lackadaisical. Jesus was talking in that passage about entertaining the thought of sex with the woman in one's mind - letting the temptation linger and dwelling on it in one's inner thoughts.
It is letting oneself linger on the thought of sinning that leads us further down the path towards the sin, and Jesus is warning us in that passage not to do it!
We are told to 'circumcise our heart towards God' - to cut off the patterns and ways that live on in the old self - our sinful self. We are also told to 'test the spirits' - see which thoughts and desires stem from the holy spirit, and which don't! We have a need to know the scriptures intimately so that we are ready and willing to follow the good path He laid before us.
And to abstain from that temptation is hard! I have fallen already several times this year in trying to utterly remove from myself the old habit of adult roleplay in chat here online, and slowly been learning that it serves no purpose to reel in shock and beat myself up on the matter. Jesus knows that we are a people cleansed in Him, yet still on the battlefield of the World, and has given us his Holy Spirit and word to nurture, guide, and even protect us.
I reccommend to Miss Sunflower the 'Daily Audio Bible' from http://www.dailyaudiobible.com/ , and a little bit of prayer with Jesus each morning. We grow narrowed down onto focusing on our faults and battling with the one the Enemy has had as a stronghold in our life, but there is much more that God gives when spending a little time listening to his Word, to help us grow and mature in him.
As mature christians we are given the authority and power of Jesus himself to weild here on earth's spiritual battlefield. Take up your armor daily by starting the morning with the Word, and know that by reading and meditating on scripture, you're actually taking Jesus and setting him first, so that he can guard you. He is real, true and more powerful than the devil ever wants us to admit, and our very humanity that keeps us at bay from having the peace of mind that is Jesus' nearness in our hearts.