Resisting Temptation

Neal A. Maxwell once said, "If we entertain temptations, soon they will be entertaining us." As an angel of light, Satan is especially skilled at making sin seem attractive to us. In other words, Satan prefers to employ subtle tactics rather than overt ones because disguised temptations are more effective in deterring and deceiving well-intentioned Christians. In his book Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis wrote that from the devil's vantage point "the safest road to Hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts."

Though it is not a sin to be tempted, it is a sin to give in to temptation. Temptations come to the godly and the sinner alike, but what sets them apart
is not the temptation itself but rather the response to it.

>From Scripture we realize two important principles about temptations. Most importantly, God is not responsible for tempting us because it is against His character to lead anyone into sin. James 1:13-15 says, "When tempted, no one
should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone, but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." Thus, it is clear that sin originates both from the yearnings of our sinful nature as well as from the Devil.

Secondly, we see that all temptations can be overcome by the power of God. I
Corinthians 10:13 states that "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that
you can stand up under it." To set an example for us on how to overcome sin, Jesus endured temptations of various kinds. Hebrews 4:15 says that "He was tempted in every way just as we are--yet was without sin." Christ demonstrated that sin can only be overcome by prayer, fasting, and studying the word of God. Just like Jesus, the more in tune you become with the word and the ways of the Lord the more apt you are to be able to distinguish His voice from the enemy's in times of crisis.

Though resisting temptation is never easy, God promises to reward us for being obedient. When Potipher's wife pursued an immoral relationship with
Joseph, he immediately fled from her presence. Though he was later thrown into jail because she falsely accused him, God was with him and eventually enabled him to ascend to the second highest position in Egypt. Moses too made a decision that involved temporal sacrifices but eternal rewards. Hebrews 11: 25 says that "He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather
than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time." As a result, God gave Moses the privilege of witnessing His miraculous hand of blessing for 40 years in the desert.

Temptations comes to all of us on a daily basis but God promises to give you the strength to overcome them. Ask the Lord today to give you discernment so that you can avoid the enemy's pitfalls. God has called you to a life of victory--don't let anything stand in your way!

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All Bible verse quotations on this page are from the New International version.

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