Temptation

It happens to everyone sometimes without a moment’s notice. It’s not like we were out looking for it, or seeking to find it, but still there it is right there in front of us.  What is it?  Well that’s part of the problem it takes on so many forms.  It could be a thought, or a picture, or a person, or an attitude, or a feeling, or money, or a candy bar, or …. So what is it ?… Temptation!  The definition of temptation reads:

           IN BRIEF: The desire to have or do something that you should avoid; enticement.

           Temptation (plural temptations):

The act of tempting or the condition of being tempted.

Something attractive, tempting or seductive; an inducement or enticement.

Pressure applied to your thinking designed to create wrong emotions that will lead to wrong actions.

And…

           Something that attracts, especially with the promise of pleasure or reward:                                   allurement, bait, come-on, enticement, inducement, invitation, lure, seduction.

Biblically…

           James 1:13  says, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

The truth is we all know what it is, and for most of us we know the area where we are most easily tempted.  Unfortunately, I think many of us have adopted the Mark Twain philosophy of dealing with temptation.  Twain states:

           “I deal with temptation by yielding to it.”

I feel confident we have all practiced this at some time or another only to find out that there was a great price to pay.  Whether it is physically, mentally, relationally, or even spiritually (which includes all the above) we know that yielding to temptation always costs us.

Knowing this I (actually the Bible) have good news.  Yielding is not the only option when it comes to dealing with temptation.  Check out 1 Corinthians 10:12-13:

“12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.13 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.”

Did you get that?  Everyone is tempted, even Jesus according to Hebrews 4:15-16 “…but (Jesus) was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”  Like Jesus we can be victorious, we can overcome temptation.  God promises that He will always provide a way of escape!  The first look may initiate the temptation however, the next look is to Jesus and He will show us the way to defeat every temptation.  As we endure, escape,overcome, and are victorious over temptation we are given a great promise:

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures (overcomes, remains faithful in) temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him!

Stand strong, victory is yours, blessings are on the way!