How Are We Led into Temptation? by Janis Cox
When we walk our little dog around the neighbourhood, she loves to check out everything. She sniffs the ground scouting out the next interesting discovery.
The other day she found an old tissue and snapped her jaws around it. Reluctantly she finally gave it up to me. However, the next day the tissue was still there. And she repeated the same action. She hadn’t learned her lesson.
We act the same way. God will wrestle with us over something. Reluctantly we agree with Him and give it up. But when we are confronted with the same temptation again – we head toward it.
Why?
I have learned that God does not tempt us – our desires do.
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone (James 1:13, NIV).
Temptations are strong. They make us feel good; they feed our self-image; they give us warm fuzzy feelings. Until… until God shows us through His Word that we should avoid them. We may not even see them as temptations until God shows us.
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 (James 1:14-15, NIV).
Therefore when God has made us aware of what He wants us to avoid – we must work to not repeat that action. (tweetable)
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we know there are many temptations here on earth. Help us to see them as You see them. Give us guidance and strength to combat the pull that entices and give us strength to turn away. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.
