A study in temptation (2)

Moving on from yesterday, the second misconception about temptation is similarly sneaky: the idea that 'temptation is sin'. No, that's a lie. A clever, nasty lie. It's the difference between someone showing us a photo or video we shouldn't be looking at, and us choosing to spend time studying it. We can't help being shown but we can definitely choose not to fixate on it.

Get this one locked in: sinful ideas aren't our fault. Acting on them (even to think about them actively) is when we start to turn away from God. Satan wants to divert our relationship with Jesus. So, whilst he's sending us thoughts to get us to focus on whatever-it-is (jealousy? snide comments? porn?), if he can get us feeling guilt as well, he's double scored!

Even Jesus was tempted! Seriously, after 40 days of being alone without food. And yet Jesus was completely without sin (see 2 Corinthians 5:21), so that we can be free of it ourselves. We need to know this: there is a difference between temptation and sin. And Jesus has been there (see Hebrews 2:18), so when he helps us, it's from first-hand experience.



So what now? Know this: you are not defined by your temptation. And you have victory over it. Know how to respond to tempting thoughts: for example, 'No, I'm not going to indulge this. I know that it happening isn't sin, but I'm stopping this right now before it becomes sin. Help me, Jesus, to choose you right now'.





— SCRIPTURE —

'Blessed is the man who endures temptation.' James 1:12 NKJV
— SOULFOOD —

Neh 8-10, John 18:25-40, Ps 105:1-7, Pro 30:1-4