Temptation

   What is temptation? Temptation is anything that makes you go on your own way and leave the way of God. Temptation is an enticement that makes us go beyond Godly bounds. It is an enticement to disobey God.

   "1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it" The bible says No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man meaning that the temptation that you face is not new or special. Everybody is being tempted in many different ways.

   God is not the source of our temptation but the devil. The devil will tempt you in an area that he knows you will be easily tempted and he shows you clearly the benefits of the temptation. When the devil tempted Jesus he presented Him with some benefits. Look what the devil told Eve.....;Genesis 3: 4 but the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

   Don’t forget that temptations come with benefits but the consequences are bigger! Many people want to talk about what they will gain but they never talk about the consequences. Don’t be fooled by what you will gain, how it will make you look good but rather pay attention to the consequence.

   One major source of temptation is a thought, leading to imagination, a desire and a will, which stays in our heart leading us to making a choice. Let me explain that…. Like you think about what it would be like if I do this, then you start imagining what it would be like, then it enters in your heart and you actually do it. You have to be wise and stop it at the beginning stage of a thought because when it goes through imagination, and your will and your heart then you act upon it then it becomes like fire that cannot be easily stopped.

   Something that I learned about temptations is that we give in saying that next time we won't do it....well the truth is when you give in to a temptation you become weaker and when you refuse to give in you become stronger. Every temptation you give in to weakens you for the next temptation!

   Nothing is wrong with being tempted. Temptation is not a sin but when we give in it becomes sin. God does not promote temptation and we should never blame God for our temptation. 

   The devil tempts us to destroy us. God allows us to be tested to strengthen us. Choose to be strengthened by God by doing the right thing. God Bless You. Masinga