You’re going to have conflict in your life. There’s no way around it. We live in a world of sinners and anytime you have more than one sinner together for a period of time there’s going to be conflict.
It’s a simple mathematical equation: 1 sinner + 1 sinner = conflict.
I would like for you to be prepared to fight to the glory of God when conflict does occur. In doing so I want to share the three things that Jesus teaches us to do when dealing with our sin.
First, don’t give in to the temptation to sin.
Jesus says temptation will come (Luke 17:1). It’s not if, but when. I would encourage you to reduce all of your external temptations to sin. Create an environment in your life that helps you live for Jesus. But fighting temptation is much more than environment. Temptation is not only what’s out there but also what’s inside (Rom. 7:5, 18). By the grace of God, fight temptation when it comes. God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can handle and he will provide a way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13).
Second, don’t tempt others to sin.
Jesus says, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!” (Luke 17:1). Are you tempting anyone to sin in any way? Are you leading others away from living for Jesus? By God’s grace, don’t be an agent of the devil by tempting others to sin.
Third, repent and seek repentance when—not if—you fail to uphold the first two principles.
When you sin or tempt others to do so, seek forgiveness through repentance with Jesus and those you tempted.
Adapted from the sermon “How to Fight to the Glory of God,” part 69 of the 100-part sermon series on the Gospel of Luke.
