Careful You Are Not Tempted

I believe that it is very clear to avoid temptation. I have to look back at my writings to ensure that I am taking the necessary actions and precautions to avoid temptation even though it is very clear. This morning I read that I should be that partner with others to guide them in the avoidance of those temptations and when they do give way to the temptation, I should be there to guide them back, gently.

“¹Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” — Galatians 6:1 (ESV)

But that is not all that is contained in the above verse. I am, yes to guide my brothers and sisters in Christ back to Him in a gentle manner, yet I am also to be careful not to fall into the same temptation with them by allowing them to drag me in. This would be very easy to do as I hold to the idea of gently bringing them back.

You see, it is important to be gentle and understanding. It is also important to be deliberate. I have to remember that I am there to guide my brothers and sisters out of the temptation to transgress that they gave way to. I have a duty to support them and show them that they do not nor did not have to go down that path. I have to put myself in the position of possible temptation in the interest of bringing them out. I cannot avoid the situation due to not wanting to be a part to such transgression. Even Jesus dined with sinners openly to show love and bring that love to them.

“¹¹And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ ¹²But when he heard it, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ¹³Go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.’” — Matthew 9:11-13 (ESV)

I have to be willing to help those in need and I cannot worry with what others think. I have to just simply do the work that is right. I do however have to be careful not to be dragged in. I have to ensure that I keep my eyes on Jesus so as not to fall prey to temptation to take part in the transgression. I have to know what I am there to do and stick to the plan that God has for me. I have to be careful so as not to be tempted.

When have you avoided getting involved with someone or something in hopes to not be tempted to take part? Are you somehow doing better by not helping others out of those situations? What if you went into those situations to help and stuck to the deliberate action of just helping them out of the situation?

Yes, Even Jesus was Tempted

I know, who knew. Well, I know that I did as I have studied God’s Word for some time now in my 51 (almost 52) years of life. Even Jesus was tempted, and look as to when He was tempted.

“²And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” — Matthew 4:2 (ESV)

Jesus was weak and vulnerable in this hour that He would be tested. He had been fasting for 40 days. I know that when I have been without for even 24 hours I am irritable and vulnerable to the temptations of the world as I look to satisfy my need. Jesus had been without for 40 days and for sure this is the time that He would be tested, when He is most vulnerable. But look at the verse just before.

“¹Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” — Matthew 4:1 (ESV)

This tempting of Jesus was not random and coming out of nowhere. The Holy Spirit “led” Him into the situation. Jesus was chosen to be tempted by the evil one at this time when He was most vulnerable. God knew that Jesus was up to the task and allowed His son to be tempted. He knew the outcome would be great because He knew His son and even in His weakened state, God provided the strength and wisdom needed to overcome and be delivered from the temptation that was befalling Him.

I look at this tempting of Jesus and think, well, if He will be tempted when He is in an extremely weakened state and was still strong enough to overcome with the help of God, why wouldn’t I have the same chance to overcome with the help of God. I should be leaning on God to guide me through this life so that I am able to avoid temptation, yet even then will I still be tempted just as Jesus was tempted, and He is the Son of God.

If even Jesus was tempted, what does that imply about you? Are you working through this world without understanding that you too will be tempted? What if you were accept that you will be tempted and lean on God to get you through?

Temptations and Sin Will Come, We Must Forgive

As I have continued to study “temptation” I have noted that no matter where I find myself, temptations will come and present themselves to me. I have to be aware of this and look for every opportunity to avoid them. I have to associate with others as accountability partners, I have stay working and avoid idleness, I have to be content with what is provided by God and not fall to the ways of the world. And not only do I have to do my work to avoid temptation, I have to know that the LORD will deliver me when I fall to that temptation. But, how will I get that deliverance, by repenting and asking for forgiveness.

It is up to me to repent of all of the sins that I have committed and will commit. Being human, I know that I will commit them. I have to admit to my failures and the sins and allow God to forgive me and I have to accept His forgiveness, even though I do not deserve it. And this brings me to my study today, forgiveness of those who are tempted to or actually sin against me. I have to forgive them as Christ has and does forgive me.

“³Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, ⁴and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” — Luke 17:3-4 (ESV)

Above are the words of Jesus as He speaks about temptation and sin. He is very clear that those who sin against us are not to get off without consequences. Notice that one should first “rebuke” the one who sins against you. I have to let them know that it is unacceptable to treat others that way. And once there is repentance of the sin to me, I have to then forgive. And this is not just the one time. Remember that as often as we sin against God, He ALWAYS forgives us, and I am to do the same. When repentance is displayed, forgiveness follows.

I know what you are thinking and you are not wrong in your thoughts, how much is too much to forgive. Well, notice the number that is stated here, “seven times in the day”. And elsewhere it is noted as seventy-seven.

“²¹Then Peter came up and said to him, ‘Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ ²²Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” — Matthew 18:21-22 (ESV)

I look at what Jesus says in Luke and have to take the full statement into account. He says “in the day”. This to me indicates that we give our brothers and sisters seven times each day, and even looking in Matthew, that should be seventy-seven times each day. What this tells me is that we are to forgive our brothers and sisters that are repentant, continuously and an infinite number of times. The thing is that there has to be the repentance that comes before the forgiveness. Without the repentance, I am only tasked with loving them. I will love them always and when they come to me repentant, I will forgive.

When has someone done to you that they were repentant for doing? Were you forgiving of their transgression against you and were you each time? What if you loved until repentance and the forgave infinitely for the sins against you?

Be Content and Do Not Fall Into Temptation

Way easier said than done. Be content? Well that is the approach we should have, content with that which God has provided. Our needs are those things that are to be met, not our desires. Those desires are the thing of temptation.

“⁸But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. ⁹But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” — 1 Timothy 6:8-9 (ESV)

I see too many situations where it is the desire for more that that which is needed and provided where I fall. I have to understand that what I need is vastly different than that which I desire. I hear regularly from others that they “need” something and yet if they were not to receive it, there would be no change to their situation or future. One does not need a new car, bag, shoes, video game, house, watch, or other things. It is food, clothing, and a roof over head that are the needed items and the LORD is the provider of all of those.

Yes, some have been blessed with more than others, and for that I should be excited for them. Those with the big houses and fancy cars and expensive clothing have been provided for in their way from God. Do they “need” all of those things, that is not for me to decide. And, I am not in the inner circle of their lives and relationships and as such am in no position to determine if those are provided for them or if they are fulfilling some sort of desire and have fallen into the temptation of material things. I have to turn my attention to me and my relationship with the LORD and know that He has provided for my needs and that is enough.

Being tempted by the things of this world are a part of this world. I have to remember that I am dedicated to the LORD and all that He has provided and all that He has tasked for me. It is in contentment that I find truth in the LORD and then I am able to move on to those things that are more impacting to those around me and not just being self serving with the accumulation of material things that are of no use to me when I leave this world.

What things do you have that have been provided by God? Are you working to accumulate even more through the temptation of the worldly things? What if you were content with the provision of your needs that comes from the LORD as opposed to looking to the material things that the world tempts?

Temptation Will NOT Be More Than You Can Handle

As noted, temptation will be there for all of us. There is no one who is exempt from it as we are all human and will be tempted by the evil one, regardless of our relationship with Christ. I am a sinner and it is my nature to want to sin. Temptation will drive me to sin, that I know for certain.

“¹³No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. 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 10:13 (ESV)

Here Paul tells the Corinthians again that they will be tempted, and even that God will allow it to happen. This further demonstrates that we are not exempt from temptation, no matter our standing with Christ. But, God will also ensure that we have a way to avoid or be delivered from that temptation. We do not have to be slaves to the temptation.

I have noted in previous writings that temptation can be avoided by continuing to do work. By staying busy with the LORD’s work, my heart and my mind will be focused on the work and does not have a chance to wander into the realm of that temptation. I have also the ability to lean on a partner, my wife, to keep me from the temptations that will come from the evil one as relates to sexual immorality. I have Lori to be with and therefore will lean away from the temptations that will steal my heart.

I have a way out, as you can see in the above paragraph, and that is noted by Paul there in verse 13 above. I can and will endure the temptation, but not on my own. I have to have a place to be and someone to be there with. The place is in the doing of God’s work and the person is the LORD and an accountability partner such as fellow Christians, or the one closest to me in Lori.

God provides me the way to avoid or be delivered from the temptations of the evil one, and He also will not allow me to be tempted with more than I can handle. It must be noted that the amount I can handle is not left for me to decide, but left for God to allow. When left to it on my own, I will take the path of least resistance. God will take me on His path, which may be paved with difficulty, adversity, and plenty of temptation. But that path will always be the one that I can follow and reach the end. God will NOT ask me to take on something that I am not able to complete for Him, after all, it is His will NOT mine.

So when looking at temptation and my relationship with it, I have to remember that first of all, it will be there. I will always have those things that will tempts me to fall away from the path that God has me on. But, God will provide me the way that I can avoid the temptations and not allow them to over take and derail my work that I am tasked with for Him. And, when I am not able to avoid the temptation, He will provide the way to be delivered from it.

What temptations are in your life? Are you allowing them to stop you from proceeding with the work that God has for you? What if you took the approach that God will NOT allow temptations in your life that are more than you can handle?

Have One Spouse to Stave Off Temptation

I speak of one spouse here to ensure that both men and women are represented. One of the more impacting and debilitating temptations in this world is that of sexual immorality. I know that I struggle with being tempted with that which I see and hear, just in the public space. People dressing promiscuously and speaking of their exploits are hard to avoid in public, let alone what is available in the private space. And, the ideas that it is and/or should be perfectly acceptable to engage in whatever makes you “feel good” is, in my opinion, crippling others as to what is right and what is wrong.

I will take a step back now and address how to avoid some of this temptation as directed from God’s word. You see, every man and every woman should have their own spouse. Not for the sake of having a spouse, but in love and as a partner in the fight against the temptations of sexual immorality.

“¹Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: ‘It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.’ ²But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.” — 1 Corinthians 7:1-2 (ESV)

Paul writes here about men and women not having sexual relations with the other, but if they must, it should be in the confines of marriage. God made us that way and He certainly knew what He was doing. Even back to the beginning, Eve was created to be a companion to Adam, and there was not another created, only the two of them. Now, where the evil one tempted and created the scenario where they were overcome by there temptation, God allowed them to have each other, and only each other, in their newly found desires for sexual relations.

The temptation for sex is there for all of us as we are human. As such, in order to live the life God has for me, I have to ensure that I am able to stave off the temptation of sexual immorality and focus on the work God has for me. Here in this world, I am grateful to have Lori as my partner in fighting off the temptation of sex. She and I have given to each others that which is only ours to give. We have dedicated ourselves to each other and every chance each day to lean on one another when the temptation of sexual immorality comes. I have her to look to when I am tempted and she has me. We have an immediate partner to satisfy our desires and do not have to look to anyone else.

What is your attitude as relates to the temptation of sex? Are you simply giving in to the temptation with whoever comes your way? What if you dedicated yourself in marriage to satisfy your desires?

Pray to Avoid Temptation

I wrote recently about avoiding temptation by being with others. This morning I was brought to the passage of Jesus praying in Gethsemane and the actions of those who were with Him at that time. Jesus was with the three and as He went a bit further to pray and converse with God alone, He left them to keep watch. When one is to keep watch, it is understood to be awake and alert to that which is going on around so as to warn or take action as needed.

“⁴⁰And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not watch with me one hour? ⁴¹Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’” — Matthew 26:40-41 (ESV)

The three could not even keep watch for one hour while Jesus was praying. They fell asleep and lacked awareness and alertness to anything that was going on about them. Jesus returned to find them this way and coached them to the need for them to stay awake and gave them instruction as to how to and why it was important, pray to avoid temptation.

Jesus understands that it is important to have others around you to avoid temptation, hence the reason for bringing the three disciples with Him to pray so that they could keep one another. Yet, the disciples did not hold each other accountable and allowed one another to fall into temptation and fall asleep. They were tempted by their in action and even though they were not alone, they were on their own as they did not work together.

Jesus gave the disciples simple instructions to stay awake and watch out. The disciples could not do it. So, Jesus gave them additional instruction to avoid the temptation of sleep and that was to remain active with prayer. Jesus went again to pray additionally with God and then returned to find the disciples, you guessed it, asleep again.

“⁴²Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.’ ⁴³And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.” — Matthew 26:42-44 (ESV)

Notice as He returned after prayer and finding them asleep, Jesus did not coach them again as he knew that they had fallen to the temptation and would continue doing so. He returned to pray once again and left them to sleep. Jesus had asked and asked again for the disciples to follow His example and pray, and when they demonstrated that they were not capable, He left them to continue on their own and fall to the temptation.

Jesus will deliver us from the temptations that we fall to as He did with the disciples here. He will “wake” us and provide the instruction to avoid that temptation and it is up to us to take that instruction and learn from it to improve. When we do not, Jesus will allow us to fall to the temptation and will wait for us to come to Him and seek the deliverance.

Jesus will also come to us when it is time and deliver us as needed. He did so with the disciples at the appointed time and provided some final coaching and instruction for them before He would be taken away and led to His crucifixion.

“⁴⁵Then he came to the disciples and said to them, ‘Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.’” — Matthew 26:45-46 (ESV)

I have to note here that Jesus did not give up on the disciples, He simply allowed them to fall to the temptation knowing that He would be able to deliver them at the appointed time. Jesus will not abandon me. He is always with me, yet He will allow me to live with free will and make my own decisions. He will be there waiting for me to come to Him.

The disciples fell to their temptation as they were idle. They were not doing anything to stay awake and alert and keep watch. They were men and they were tired. I know that I have fallen prey to being idle and have fallen to the temptation of sleep when I could have taken action to avoid that temptation. I will teach my trainees that when there is nothing to do, there is always something to do. They should not just sit idle, they should find something to take up their time so that they are able to stay alert and continue to learn. I have to remember to take my own advice and remember that when I am idle, there is always something to do to avoid temptation and that something is to pray.

What are you doing when you are idle? Are you looking to simply rest and are you falling prey to temptation? What if you found that one thing that would fill your idleness and pray to the LORD?

Temptation is Inevitable, Don’t be the One Bringing It

“7Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!” — Matthew 18:7 (ESV)

As I go through this world, I will be tempted. And for that temptation, there is a reason for feeling sorry for myself as there is nothing that I can do or could have done to avoid that temptation. I have to live with the fact of the temptation being there and then I have to do the work to avoid it as much as I can and when unavoidable, I have to ask the LORD to deliver me from its clutches.

Whereas there is no chance that the temptation will not come upon me, I have to also ensure that I am not the one bringing temptation to my fellow man. There is enough strife and temptation in this world there is no room for any more that may be brought by me. I have to be very careful in my approach to the world to ensure that I do not cause another to stumble.

“¹³Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother…²⁰Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.” — Romans 14:13&20 (ESV)

It is my duty to lift up my brothers and sisters as opposed to getting in their way and holding them down. I have to ensure that whatever it is that I am doing, that those things are not a hindrance to their growth and ability to avoid temptation that would not be pronounced to them without my presence.

An example of me not bringing the temptation to my brothers and sisters is here. At the end of the day during the week, as I wind down before bedtime, I have a couple of drinks. It is only Monday – Friday and if I do have drinks on the weekend, it is generally in a social sense and a part of the evening and in the presence of others that have already ordered drinks themselves. At home in the evenings, it is only Lori and I in the house and therefor no one is there to be tempted by my actions. This is an example of removing the stumbling block to those around me. By not drinking in the presence of others on the regular, they are not tempted to drink by my actions.

Now, where the above example is only one, our approach should be similar in all that we do. There is enough temptation in the world as noted by Jesus in the passage found in Matthew. There is also enough opportunity to stop bringing that temptation to the world on my part. It is important, as Jesus states as noted in Matthew and Paul writes in Romans that I am not the bringer of temptation to the world and my brothers and sisters that are in it.

What temptations are you fighting off in the world? Are you bringing temptation to those around you? What if you worked to avoid and be delivered from temptation and also worked to ensure that you are not bringing temptation to others?

Not Just Delivered from Temptation, but Not to Even Experience It

We live in such a reactive society that there is the tendency to not take any action until the event or issue has already presented itself. That is what I think about as I read this morning’s passage in Matthew. Yes, the passage, Matthew 6:5-15 is the Lord’s Prayer and how to pray, but in verse 13 I am reminded that I have to work to stay out of temptation and not just be delivered when it is presented. I have to take and act proactively and not just react to that which I need assistance.

“¹³And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.”

— Matthew 6:13 (ESV)

One of the temptations that I know I struggle with is what I am doing when I have nothing to do. In other words, what fills my idle time. It is natural to want to have some down time to rest after a long period of intense work. The challenge is that we tend to dive into the rest and take that time up with something else entirely and it ends up consuming us and we lose sight of what our goal is. It is in these times that I find myself tempted with those things that are of the secular world and not focused on those things that are of God.

I take social media as an example of that which is tempting. I remember my first introduction to to them where I sat on the side of the tub in the bathroom for 1.5 hours, just scrolling. I did not learn anything and lost that time to the screen and frankly, got dumber. Even today, when I have nothing to do, I find myself searching for something on my phone to keep my attention all in the name of resting, when in reality, it is just filled with temptation. The temptation to criticize others, the temptation to look at things I shouldn’t, the temptation to just disappear into the technology world and frankly, struggle to come out having learned anything at all.

I have to continue to pray to the LORD and ask for His guidance and strength to avoid those temptations before I am even sucked into them and need delivering. I have to keep my hands, heart, and mind active and busy doing the work of the LORD so that those things are not even in my mind.

Now, I will admit that there are things in life and in society that are worth noting and learning and those may only come to us when we are idle and resting. In fact, it is when the mind is clear that our mind can reason and deliver those things that may be of great value. The thing is that in those times of resting the mind, it is just that, resting the mind and allowing it to explore those items freely without influence. It is that free resting that is avoiding being tempted as it is resting with intent and there is an actual purpose to it.

I need the help of the LORD in my rest. I need Him to deliver me from the temptations of the world. More importantly, I need Him to lead me in avoiding the temptations that will be presented. I need to lean on the LORD for my actions and deliberateness in all that I do, even in my times of rest.

What are you doing when you are “resting”? Are you truly resting or are you allowing yourself to be sucked into temptation? What if you rested with intent and allowed the LORD to guide you away from temptation and not just deliver you from it once you are sucked in?

Together to Avoid Temptation

I would venture to say that when we are alone, temptation will run rampant. It is easy to drift away to an area that is not in the interest of God when there is no one there to hold you to account of following God. We all need the accountability partner to keep us moving toward God. Paul wrote to the Corinthians on this subject as he wrote in relation to marriage in his first letter to the church.

“⁵Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” — 1 Corinthians 7:5 (ESV)

Notice how Paul describes avoiding temptation. Devoting yourself to your partner and only separating to spend dedicated time with God. When we are with God we are focused on Him and that focus is what allows us to avoid temptation. When we are not with God, we are prone to the evil one and the chance to wander away from God. This is when we need accountability partners to keep our mind off of those things that are out of alignment with God. I know that this passage in 1 Corinthians is speaking to the avoidance of sexual immorality. But, I also see the avoidance of evil and falling away from God.

I have, as a sinner, the predisposition to evil. I will, when not in concert with God, drift away and seek the flesh and what is pleasurable to the flesh. Without the accountability of a brother or sister in Christ, there is no positive influence to hold on to. I need that influence. Lori gives me that influence here in our home. We are together and hold each other accountable. When we are with one another, we are not able to wander off the path God has unless we are doing it together.

Lori and I may be apart in the morning and throughout the day, but during those times that we are apart, we are not idle. In the mornings, Lori is getting ready for the day and I am here with the LORD. In the day, she and I are both working and not idle or alone as we focus on the work before us. This is the accountability we need to remain on task with the LORD and stay away from the evil one.

Temptation comes in those times when we are not focused and our minds are wandering and looking for something to take up the time. It is all to easy to be tempted by the evil one when we are not occupying our minds and hearts with the LORD or frankly when we are not occupying our minds at all.

What does your idle time look like? Are you allowing your mind and heart to wander and be tempted? What if you were to find that accountability in others to avoid that time alone when you are not engaged with God?