I have a fridge magnet. On it is a cupcake. And, underneath, those words we all know so well: "I can resist everything except temptation".
So often that magnet can feel true. So often we mess up and fall into the same traps time and time again. Temptation leads to sin leads to guilt. It certainly feels true for me today as I fail - yet again - to stick to the new low-fat diet recommended by the doctor. And, more importantly, fail to keep control of my thoughts and my speech.
In part, the magnet is true because we are sinful human beings who are not yet free from the snare of our wayward hearts and our fallen environment. Temptation and sin are inevitable this side of Jesus' return. But partly it feels true because we see battling temptation as a predominantly negative thing. We think of it purely in terms of giving things up, denying ourselves, being austere, missing out.
There are elements of self-denial in battling temptation, of course. But at it's heart, it's more than that.
When writing about chastity Bonhoeffer commented that, at its core, it's not about suppression of our feelings but orientating our life towards a single goal.
Battling temptation isn't about squishing our desires with force, it's about focusing our eyes on Jesus. Remembering that he is our all in all - our Saviour, our Lord, our King - and desiring to be like him, to honour him and follow him in every aspect of our life. It's about being so impressed with him that everything else pales into insignificance. And that process starts by getting to know him - intimately - through Bible reading and prayer.
So next time we fail to battle temptation. And my sneaking suspicion is that it wont be too long until that happens. Instead of making excuses about extenuating circumstances or screwing ourselves up and resolving to try harder next time, let's run back to the cross for forgiveness and a moment to dwell on Jesus. Let's remember his nature, his mission, his call on our lives. Ephesians 1 or Philippians 2 might be good places to start. And let's ask him to change our hearts so we are ever more orientated towards him: deeper in love with him, more passionate about following. That's when it becomes more likely we wont give in.
