August 19, 2026

Temptation

We all face temptation.  Eve and her well-known apple incident happened soon after they moved into the Garden of Eden. Whether we are wasting time or committing actual sin, countless temptations come our way.  Obeying God and following the Word requires a life of sacrifice and choosing righteousness.  When we follow the ten commandments most of the time and occasionally give in to behavior the Lord has asked us to give up, we are in rebellion and deliberately disobeying God.

Temptation can look harmless. It often masquerades as good things. Relaxing. But when it takes us away from our mission, our call, it is a distraction that has become a successful lure.  Those behaviors come at us from every direction. Our friends. Tv. Signs, billboards and commercials. When the world says you have not arrived because you do not have the latest technology, clothing, car or gadget, just remind them you are doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing.

God gives us all the strength we need to resist.  He has blessed us with the ability to ignore sin through discipline and obedience.  It seems simple to follow Jesus’ example but it is not easy. We have the Manual He left for us.  We know the character and love of our Lord, so relax, trust and follow Him in every way

It builds our faith when we recognize that all over the world the Body of Christ is seeing, believing, and finding spiritual strength in all areas of life.  Stay strong!  Resist temptation so you can obey the Lord and run your race. 

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.  Acts 20:24