Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.
Evangelism Begins With Discernment
“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:12-13).
I recently ate lunch with friends at a local cafeteria. As I walked with my tray to the cash register, I passed the desserts. They looked really good, and I was very tempted to get one but did not. In the overall scheme of things, this was a pretty mild form of temptation.
Temptation comes at us each day in a variety of forms. It has been around since the very beginning when the serpent tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and gave in to the desires of the flesh and ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
The enemy later tempted Jesus immediately following His baptism. You may recall that Jesus used Scripture to “rebuke” (2 Timothy 3:16) satan as Jesus was tested and tempted by satan
(Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus modelled for us the power of Scripture. Also, Joseph was tempted by Potiphar’s wife to sleep with her. Joseph modelled for us that we should remove ourselves from temptation. As Potiphar’s wife grabbed Joseph’s cloak, he ran out of the house (Genesis 39:12).
The enemy knows that we each have a weakness and will use these as temptations to move us away from God and toward sin. Temptation should be dealt with consistently, ruthlessly, and immediately because sin is “crouching at the door” (Genesis 4:7).
It is important that we realize the pathway and source of temptation. James 1:13-15 teaches, “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” Adam and Eve did not die in their physical bodies, but their sin separated them from God. A life separated from God is no life at all.
Yes, “the wages of sin are death” (Romans 6:23). However, we have eternal life through the blood of Jesus because the complete verse of Romans 6:23 is: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” “As the Scripture says, “The person who is put right with God through faith shall live” (Romans 1:17).
Temptation is clearly not from God, but we can use temptation to deepen our relationship with God. John Quincy Adams, our sixth President, said, “Every temptation is an opportunity of our getting nearer to God.” God will provide a way out from temptation, and He is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).
Prayer: Dear God: Please protect us as we face temptations that would serve to draw us away from you. Grant us a keen sense of discernment as we seek comfort from you and not from this world. Amen.
Meet the Author
Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
We welcome your comments below.
Liked this post?
Read more below or search for more topics...
-
Who Do You Say That I am?
Who Do You Say I Am? “In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will” (Ephesians 1:11 (NIV). The first part of this blog series began by focusing on the first question posed by Jesus in Matthew 16:13-17 (below). If you missed it, please click HERE.“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the... -
The Walk to Emmaus: The Best Spiritual Weekend Retreat
The Walk to Emmaus: The Best Spiritual Weekend Retreat "When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:30-32 NIV). The Walk to Emmaus “Walk” is a three-day spiritual retreat that came out of the Roman Catholic Cursillo movement. The Walk to Emmaus is held numerous times during... -
How To Turn Bad into Good
How To Turn Bad into Good "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28 NIV). I think we all have been the recipient of bad behavior by others. Perhaps your spouse cheated on you or a dear friend was unable to keep a secret. My heart breaks for those that have been incarcerated for decades for a crime and then are finally released when DNA evidence, which was not available at the time of the trial, proves they are innocent. The Biblical story of...