Overcome Temptation

Many of us, we do not like to hear the word temptation;  we associate temptation with wrongdoing. That is not true. The dictionary defines temptation as the act of influencing by exciting hope or desire. The key word for me is influence. If you think back to the days of your youth, you may recall a friend trying to influence you to do something that you knew you should not do. You had the choice to say yes or no.

Sometimes, we allow others to influence us to do something wrong; in other words, we yielded or submitted to the urging of another, then we had a problem. The Apostle James said it this way,  “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” (James 1:14-15 NLT). Our desire is the hook that traps us in temptation. I don’t like heights so I will not be tempted to do skydiving. However, I love to resolve the problems I encounter when I’m working. So, I would be tempted to stay up all night until I resolve the issue. When I do that, I’m yielding to temptation.

What do we do in our hour of temptation? Jesus Christ had His hour of temptation and left us an example of what to do when temptation raises its ugly head. Matthew 4:1-2 tells us, “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.” The Sprit led Jesus to the temptation in His life. Sometimes, we can be led to a season of temptation also. Jesus was hungry, so the enemy directed his attack there and told Him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” And Jesus responded, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone,  but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” The devil continued,   “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’ Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God. (Matthew 4:3-7)

Every time the enemy attacked; Jesus responded with the word of God. The enemy at times will misuse the scriptures to lure us into sin. Therefore, we must take time to study the word of God so that we know what the Bible says. Jesus used the word of God to defeat the enemy, we can too.

Thought for Today: Friend, defeat the enemy with the word of God.

Have a blessed day and walk in faith and victory.