Temptation – How We Live

14 Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, He also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death-that is, the Devil- 15 and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. 16 For it is clear that He does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham's offspring. 17 Therefore He had to be like His brothers in every way, so that He could become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.18 For since He Himself was tested and has suffered, He is able to help those who are tested. Hebrews 2:14-18

Temptation exemplifies our battle to abide in God and His will for us. It is the fight to stay true to Christ or to relish in living life the way we desire. Do we live in God’s grace or do we live by Paul Anka’s “My Way”? This is a simple epitaph for a loyal disciple of Jesus, however it may not be so easy to live. Just as a faithful wife should reject the sexual advances of a man other than her husband, so to we should be devoted to Christ. We are to castoff the advancement of sin’s allure. When we give in to our flesh and passion it may please us for the moment, however our soul knows better and regrets quickly turns into shame that causes us to hide from God. Sound familiar; remember when Adam and Eve hid from God in the Garden? It is more important that we obey God’s Word than to give in to the flesh.

The temptation is not the sin; it is when we act upon the temptation that quickly sin takes over. For every breath we take temptation is soon to follow. We are prudent not to succumb to our temptations because this is the pathway to sin. The bright and flashy ways of sin cloak the price of relinquishing to a life without Christ. Irresponsibility leads to contriteness, never believe the lie, “just this once, it will not happen again, besides who is going to know?” Regret is a powerful gatekeeper. When tempted turn to Christ and ask that He would walk with you through this powerful magnet to the other side where we will find His Grace and Salvation. Amen. <><