Temptation’s Snare

Our sinful desires are the core of why we succumb to temptation. Christ’s offer of greater satisfaction and love helps us resist!

THIS WEEK’S BOLD STEP DEVOTION

“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).

Outsmarting an unwelcome house guest like a mouse can be quite a challenge! Even the best of pest controls know how allusive these little creatures can be. I know this from experience after a mouse ran into the garage while my grandson and I were playing together on our driveway. We ended up successfully enticing and capturing our little friend with a little peanut butter inside of a mousetrap. Mission accomplished!

Just like a mousetrap is designed to lure and capture mice, temptation for the Christian can be deadly if we don’t learn how to recognize it and resist it. Everyone is tempted in different ways at different times, so it’s imperative that we prepare for it. Take note that James doesn’t say “if tempted” in the verse above but “when tempted.”

The real danger for Christians is having a naïve assumption that temptations will be super obvious when most often they are subtle and nuanced. The other danger is playing the blame game and pointing the finger back at God, the devil, or other people for our giving in to temptation. James clearly states that God can’t be tempted by evil nor tempt anyone. And while the devil certainly can tempt us, he can’t force anyone to sin. That’s on us.

Is there hope in overcoming temptation? I believe there is, but we must first learn to recognize the difference between testing and tempting. God tests us to prove or try our character, but He does not tempt or entice us to give in to wrong. Second, we must learn to redirect the responsibility to ourselves. The real battle lies within us, and while there are forces on the outside, ultimately, we are responsible for our own choices.

And therein lies the beauty of God’s grace—it acts like an instructor or coach teaching us to say no to temptation. When you and I start to understand the love of God in our lives, the lure of the world pales in comparison. When the temptation comes to settle for something less than God, we can say no because we are satisfied and full. When it comes to battling temptation, the rewards of integrity and holiness are worth it.

“Dear God, help me to live a life that honors and reflects you. Strengthen me to resist temptation and pursue holiness. Help me to keep my eyes on you. Thank you that you conquered sin and Satan on the cross of Calvary. Give me the power to stand against the enemy and my own sinful desires and be victorious. Amen.”

Listen to the sermon series: Breaking Down Temptation

Part 1Part 2

Ministry Update from Mark

During these summer months, Dee and I have enjoyed spending extra time with our grandkids, but I should have never shared the research below with my kids. Now every time they drop off their kids, they remind us it’s for our health and longevity. 😊

“One study found that grandparents who interacted with their grandchildren were more likely to be alive five years later than those who didn’t. Another study found that grandparents who watched their grandchildren scored higher on cognitive tests than those who didn’t.”

By the way, we wouldn’t trade it for the world!