The Magnetic Pull of Temptation

Ever notice that the news these days isn't new at all? Same old same old. It still
centers on man’s eternal struggle with temptation and the ever present nose-dive into sin. Temptation is not sin. but it is the forerunner of sin. Temptation is an appeal to the carnal, human mind and flesh to think or do something contrary to God's law of love. It's a force of attraction in the wrong direction. Magnetic! Life altering! Sin will keep you longer than you wanted to stay. It will take you further than you wanted to go. And it will cost you more than you wanted to pay. Sin is treacherous! “The inclination of man is evil from his youth.” (Genesis 7:21) This is a warning shot, at the very beginning of history, across the bow of mankind: Watch yourself; be ever mindful of your negative tendencies to cheat, steal, hurt, to be corrupt, to engage in immoral behavior. The temptation to do wrong is built in to every human being. It is a powerful force, and no one is immune from it. Jesus well understood the subtleties and powers of temptation and the weakness of human beings. On His final night with His disciples, before His crucifixion. He gave them a warning: "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26.-41) I love God's Word. That's pretty clear. How do I keep from entering into temptation and falling into sin? Watch and pray... that's what He said.... watch and pray.

String a pearl: Forgetting how human we are is a serious mistake. It will lead us to lower our spiritual defenses and allow ourselves to draw near situations we ought not. Human nature or, more accurately, carnal mindedness is tuned into temptations. It desires to go the wrong way. It is naturally attracted to Satan's lures. Unless we catch ourselves and resist soon enough, we will be caught off guard and pulled into sin. No human being has the strength to fight this spiritual warfare alone. But though we can do nothing of and by ourselves, Jesus also tells us, "With God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26) When a person is spiritually close to God and relies on God's power, seemingly impossible tasks become possible.

The song "Just a closer walk with thee", just popped into my head: "I am weak, but Thou art strong; Jesus, keep me from all wrong; I’ll be satisfied as long As I walk, let me walk close to Thee".

Watch and pray - our hope is in Him
and He loves you,
Lyndi