Temptation.

These thoughts actually crossed my mind during the late school year. I realize that it's kind of delayed to blog about them since the heaviness of them have been lifted, but they by no means have become less important to understand.


Temptation. It's a continuous pop quiz thrown at us at as what can seem to be too often. Knowing if you failed it or passed it was something I had and even sometimes still have a hard time understanding. Over the course of an intense Bible study on David, a deep conversation with a friend, and talking to God many things had opened up to me in a perspective that made sense. To be tempted is not a sin. Although how you handle that temptation can result in sin. This makes me jump to the thought of the story of "The Temptation of Jesus".


 "Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone." The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time." Luke 4:1-13. 


God to was tempted no less then we are, and in the same ways that we are today. The difference is that He didn't give into them therefore they didn't result in sin.


For a long time I didn't understand that. This topic came up as someone brought up the topic of desires to me. She claimed that if God clothed her with those emotional  and physical desires why would they be a sin? This is when God helped me to understand. Yes, we've been given desires, but desires themselves are not sins. As stated before how you handle that desire will determine if it is a sin. I will give you two extreme scenarios to give you some further thought for your mind to process and understand if you already don't. 


Scenario 1: Pornography is displayed on your computer, or pops up in your mind. You do everything you can to escape your mind processing it by thinking of other things to distract it. In this case you made it bounce, you resisted the temptation, and you shoved it aside. This isn't a sin. It was simply a temptation thrown at you, but in every way you rejected it. 


Scenario 2: Pornography is displayed on your computer, or pops up in your mind.  You continue to look at it and feed the thoughts out of curiosity, while the visual image becomes stronger in your mind. In no way did you resist the temptation but built it up for the next time when the temptation comes along. This is a sin. You accepted the unjustifiable temptation. 

Just a few more thoughts from the Bible to feed on...


"No 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 10:3


"For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." Hebrews 2:18


"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:2-5


"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.And remember, when someone wants to do wrong it is never God who is tempting him, for God never wants to do wrong and never tempts anyone else to do it. Temptation is the pull of man's own evil thoughts and wishes." James 1:13-14


Have a good night!