Help Me, I'm Tempted To Do Wrong

Day 279

Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:1 - 1 Corinthians 10:33

Walking past a pastry shop they had these sumptuous looking slices of different cakes. It was my first visit to the US and the cakes I saw in that shop still remain in my mind many years later. Those who know me know that I love cake. There was a slice of fruit cake, black forest, white forest, ginger and cinnamon cake, vanilla cake, and others that I wondered what was going on. The lady at the counter saw me asking questions about the cakes and came over to ask if I wanted to buy. Of course, I wanted to buy the shop however I remembered that eating all that cake would soon have me sick. I chose to pass the offer and walk away.

As I read the passage of scripture above I asked how do we flee sin or the appearance of it? Paul writing to the Corinthians speaks of God making a way out of every temptation. Now for some, they will read about my temptation for cake and laugh however God has taught me that one's weakness is not everyone's weakness. Your weakness may be the beer bottle for another stealing is their thing. Each person has a weakness they are prone to fall into temptation.

Firstly, it's not wrong to be tempted. As long as you are on earth temptation will always exist. Adam and Eve were tempted in the Garden of Eden. Jesus was tempted in the desert. To think that you cannot be tempted is pride and Paul warns that such a person should be careful lest they fall. Everyone is tempted. To say that you are not tempted means you are dead and we have buried you. Yes, somethings that tempted you no longer do because you have become dead to them however as long as you are here on earth breathing oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide temptation will knock on your door.

Secondly, God has made a way. The temptation was not allowed to come to you to kill you. The temptation one deals with is like an invitation that one must learn to say no to. That temptation is an offer to go against the will of God. The temptation you face is enticement that pulls one away from doing what is God's way and instead choosing to go for a satanic agenda. Overcoming temptation is only possible through the Word. Use the Word to strengthen yourself and to wage war against the devil. Jesus answered the devil's temptations with nothing but the Word of God Matthew 4:1-11. Don't to try use logic to beat the devil. Before you were born he was around so your thinking wont do much.

Lastly, a lifestyle of prayer is a guard agaisnt temptation. Coupled with maintinaing one's heart of worship one is able to withstand the onslaught of temptaion sent by the enemy. Prayerfulness keeps one away from the environment that dilutes the walk with God. Certainly you wont be in the disco dancing away to some sexualised song and expect to avoid the temptation of a sexual encounter while praying. God is not mocked.

Memory Verse: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Decree:

1 Corinthians 10:13

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. (italics mine)

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