Temptation: November 29, 2013

TODAY’S WORD FOR FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2013.

TEMPTATION

DEFINITION:   

An inducement; enticement to do something often regarded as unwise, wrong, or immoral.

SCRIPTURE:

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. I Corinthians 10:13.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
  
Temptation is a lot like an unexpected storm that sweeps in and causes damage to those who are caught unaware. A believer in Jesus must be alert to seeing the approach of a temptation and be prepared to ride it out. None of us, as believers, will reach a spiritual level of maturity at which we will no longer battle sinful enticements. The closer we walk with the Lord the less enticing the sinful temptations and ways of the world will be to us.

Understanding our own weaknesses is an important part of being prepared for temptation. It is usually a multitude of little sins that land most people in trouble and we need to watch for them and know where we are most vulnerable.

God has given us His guidelines in His Word for living a godly life that is pleasing to Him. The Bible clearly defines what sin is. We do not have the right to draw the line between what is sin and what is not. That is God's right.

God has given us a line and as believers we must not go over that line. Take one step over the line and soon there is an inducement to take one more step and soon you find yourself totally estranged from the Lord and overwhelmed with guilt and shame.

To build a defense against temptation we must understand how it works. Every sin (temptation) originates as a thought. If you hold onto that thought it becomes a fantasy. Fantasies can become entangled with one's emotions and then it becomes a desire.

At that point one will need to make a choice. This process is quite dangerous because the progression from a thought to a choice can be almost instantaneous. Wise believers determine ahead of time to resist a temptation as soon as it enters their consciousness.

The verse we have written above gives us two assurances that God has provided in our battle against temptation. First, is that God is faithful and we have a commitment as believers to obey God. Secondly, that we have the assurance that He is in control and has limited what Satan can do against us, and provides a way to escape.

When temptation comes your way take your focus away from the temptation and look at the bigger picture. Ask yourself the questions: Is this choice I make a violation of God's Word? What are the consequences? Am I prepared to pay the price?

Any temptation can be resisted if you really desire to resist. God will help you resist any temptation and will provide for us a way to escape from it completely.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Psalms 95:1.

O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.

PRAYER:

Help me to learn to spend more time daily in reading Your Word and praying so that I clearly understand what is sin and so that I have a strong defense against the temptation to do sinful things. May my family learn that they need to have this strong defense to protect them. Help me to build my faith daily by meditating in Your Word and praying.