Tempting, Isn’t It?

What is it that you find tempting? Are you tempted by chocolate (like me)? Are you tempted to by those new shoes you just saw at the store? Are you tempted to pull out your phone and text/call your best friend to talk about the newest gossip you just heard? There are so many things in the world that can tempt us. There are also ranging severities to temptation. There may be something that is easy for you to look at and say “No, I’m good”, but there may be others where it is really hard to say no. Our desire for that thing is just too strong. Temptation is something that will be a part of our lives as long as there is sin in our hearts and in this world. Sin is always wrapped up in a pretty package. It will always be enticing and exciting on the outside, but on the inside it is filled with nothingness and will never satisfy. “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire” (James 1:14). What do we do when we are tempted to sin? When there is something in our lives that we know we shouldn’t do (or say or think), but when the moment arises we just can’t help ourselves? What can we do about it?

We are not alone in our temptations. Every human being is subject to the temptations that we face in this world. “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man...” (1 Corinthians 10:13a). Even more than that, Christ also faced temptation when he lived on this earth. Read Matthew 4:1-11 to read an account of Jesus being tempted. Look at his response each time the devil tries to present him with a temptation. Also note that Jesus never gave in to any of these temptations. He was absolutely perfect and sinless in these moments, but he also knows that we are not, and that our Spirit is much more willing to give in. “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41). He understands this, and wants to help us. Christ will always be there for you as you work through these enticements, and he completely understands the difficulty of withstanding temptations. He is the only reason we stand a chance against temptations in the first place. He has given us the victory over sin through his death and resurrection!

Temptation can happen when we desire something in our hearts more than we desire Christ. “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of our heart will also be” (Matthew 6:21). These desires can lead us away from Christ if we choose to indulge them. If we want to grow and continue to walk with Christ, we need to learn how to fight against the desires of temptation. Temptation is not something that we are just subject to with no way to fight back. We are not at the mercy of our sinful desires, left without a way to escape. “...God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13b). God always gives us an opportunity to walk away from sin. We need to stay close and connected with him so that we can spot temptation when it arises and be ready to stand firm. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). When we stand firm in Christ, we have the power to be victorious over sin. We need to consistently be walking with the Spirit in order to be prepared for when these temptations come our way. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

There will always be temptations in our lives. This is a great tool for the enemy to use to try to pull us away from God, and change the desires of our hearts. Temptation is not something that we can always just get over quickly. Depending on the temptation and how deeply it is rooted in your heart, it may take a lifetime to conquer. Don’t ever give up on trying to overcome temptation. Even if you fall, keep getting back up and trying again. I know this is very true in my own life. If I am not able to conquer a temptation right away, I would get frustrated and think that I was a failure. If you have a genuine desire to live for Christ, then even temptations are times of growth and learning. Keep coming back to God admitting your faults, asking for forgiveness and moving forward trying to live more fully for Christ. We can’t live for Christ without Christ at the center of it all. God will always be there to give you the strength that you need to keep fighting everyday.