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The following comes from the devotional book “What Now?” by Ashley Akers. To learn more, go to www.whatnowdevo.com.
Temptation
I received an email recently from a very large auction company that said, “… has something to tempt you.” I rolled my eyes and then deleted the email without reading further. Then curiosity got the best of me. I knew that whatever they were trying to tempt me with wasn’t bad, so I went to my trash and opened the email.
There was no text within the email, only pictures consisting of a range of items from cars to clothes to televisions. The items were appealing to the eye and enticing. My immediate thoughts were, “temptation really is everywhere and in everything.” It is in your email, your local shopping stores, television, social media sites, apps, search engines and even in your text messages. It doesn’t matter if you wanted to see it or not, it’s there. This can range from the “too-good-to-be-true” shopping sales to pornography. One thing is for certain, once your eyes have seen it, the seed of temptation will begin to work within you.
We know, as stated in James 1:13-16, that temptation is not from God.
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
1 John 2:16 continues,
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
In the beginning, Satan tempted Eve with the fruit that was pleasing to the eye. When she gave in to the temptation, it birthed sin in all of us. The enemy continues to do the same thing with us daily. Temptation looks innocent at first, but it will always lead to destruction. Therefore, we must resist temptation immediately, even to the point of physically running away from it if we have to. If we don’t, it will produce a downward spiral. It begins with the desire in our eyes and if we don’t resist it, sin is birthed. Then before we realize it, we are taken captive. All of this can happen in the blink of an eye! This is because our flesh is weak.
Matthew 26:41:
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Good news! There is a way out as described in 1 Corinthians 10:13:
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.
How do we resist temptation? Pray and resist! Our flesh is weak and in order to overcome it, God must help us. We can’t do this on our own! He provides a way out for us; we just have to go to Him and be willing to take the exit He provides.
Reflection Questions
- What temptations do you struggle with?
- Has God helped you overcome a particular temptation? Explain.
Copyright © 2025 by Ashley Akers @ whatnowdevo.com. No part of this article may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from Lifeword.org