Tempted?

Have you ever been caught in a situation where you have to stop and really think what your going to do next? You could be in a situation where it seems like a little lie will solve the problem. It won’t hurt anything, right?

Or maybe you just want to lash out at someone because they hurt you or someone else.  Because they sinned and someone needs to fix it. What could a few angry words lead to? Surely, God would be okay with it?!

Or maybe you are faced with lust, greed or any of the other seven deadly sins. Maybe you are faced with deciding whether to follow The 10 Commandments or give in to your desires.

The truth is that none of these situations are right. A little lie can lead to a bigger one. And justice isn’t found by doing to people what we think they deserve. It shouldn’t be an eye for an eye.

But there is good news! Whatever desires and temptations you are battling against, you are not alone. Everyone comes face to face with sin. Sometimes we give in to our desires. Sometimes we resist them.

In 2 Corinthians Paul says, “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me.” (12:7)

Even Paul was faced with sin. It was the thorn in his flesh. Although we don’t exactly know what this thorn was, we know that God helped Paul stand up under his temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13). So to, God will help us stand up under our own temptations!

But God says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. (12:9)

By admitting that we are sinful and that we can’t do it on our own, God’s grace becomes enough for us. We can get through it because God is with us!

We know that we can’t serve both God and our desires. (Matthew 6:24). So which will you choose? Will you serve the almighty God and put aside your desires? Or will you give in to Satan and the temptations he offers? You must choose!