Temptation
Temptation is fascinating. Everyone in the Bible had to deal with temptation–Jesus, David, Moses, and all the way to the beginning with Adam & Eve. Temptation is not something we avoid or escape—it may surprise you to hear that it is an essential element of your spiritual growth.
NIV 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. 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 stand up under it.
God understands temptation and He wants to help you control it because if you control yourself in the midst of temptation it brings Him glory. What you need to understand about temptation is that it is part of humanity. Temptation itself is not sin—it is real part of our lives. That is why Jesus urges His disciples to watch and pray so that we don’t fall into it. It is not a strange thing for you to be tempted so watch out!
NIV Luke 22:40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
There have been very few times over the last few years I have been tempted to head back to the place that was one of my greatest downfalls. I understand what you say about it IS NOT a sin to be tempted, it’s what you do with it. Here’s an example of what I just experienced in this regard last weekend. I took my daughter and her friend to the mall. I had withdrawn a pretty good amount of money to make it to the next week. I was feeling very tired, and not wanting to even go in the mall, so I pulled behind the mall by a shade tree, and just started reading the bible. I was there for 2 hours waiting for them. As I looked off in the distance I could see a big sign – to the casino that used to be my favorite. It was about a mile away. I stared down at my bible, and thought about how far God had brought me. I thought about how much I had now and what that would take from me. I pictured the disappointment, the pain, all I had to lose, and mostly the promise I had made to God. Just a few years back I would dump those kids off, head off to the casino and they would be calling me when they were ready to be picked up. Now, I quietly sit, pondering all that God has done, and thanking Him for helping me overcome that temptation that I was able to quickly chase away… I’m ashamed to admit there was a little temptation there, but I stared into the word right there in my hands, I thought about what I have, and it’s EVERYTHING! Victory!
Go kris!!