When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. – James 1:13-15
I have a confession to make: I absolutely love McDonald’s bacon, egg and cheese biscuits for breakfast. Love ’em! Here’s another confession: I should not be eating them. And for a number of reasons.
One of those reasons is that I made a vow last Sunday that I would abstain from eating unhealthy food for seven days, a weekly challenge with some friends to inspire more godly habits in daily life. As much as I sincerely wished bacon, egg and cheese biscuits weren’t on that unhealthy food list, they certainly are. Oh well. Jesus did this for 40 days. Surely I can eke out a week.
Not even 72 hours later, I was dragged away by my evil Toyota SUV and enticed by the dreaded Golden Arches. Like a starving turkey vulture, I sat there in the McDonald’s parking lot and devoured two of those breakfast sandwiches without stopping to catch my breath. I couldn’t even wait to get home to eat them. Crumbs were everywhere, some of the melted cheese had even fallen onto my shirt (and I picked it off and ate it like a fat slob). I didn’t even look around to see if anyone might be watching. I didn’t care.
In that moment, I was dragged away by my own evil desire and enticed. I don’t look forward to coming clean this Sunday evening with the group, but that’s part of the deal. It has definitely opened my eyes to just how much I lack discipline in certain aspects of my daily life. Suddenly I’m not so quick to judge Esau for giving away his birthright to Jacob in exchange for a bowl of stew.
What sin do you find it most difficult to say “no” to?
The spiral into sin begins with temptation, a harmful thought that comes to mind that is not from God. Because God hates sin, He would never put a harmful thought in someone’s mind to do something He hates. Even if it’s something as seemingly trivial as gluttony. I’m pretty sure God wanted me to have oatmeal and fruit, not a greasy breakfast sandwich. The thought of McDonald’s didn’t come from God. It came from me.
It’s one thing to allow a harmful thought come to mind. But to allow that thought to take off its shoes and sit for a while is a different matter altogether.
The apostle Paul says, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). I certainly didn’t demolish the argument, nor did I take that thought captive. In the end, I was willfully disobedient.
And that is my Breakfast Sandwich Confessional.
Former Blackout Artist 