Dear Daily Message Readers,
READ: Proverbs 7:1-23
1 Corinthians 16:13 (NIV) "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong."
On the 1970's TV show "Hee Haw," Doc Campbell, one of the show's most famous actors, is confronted by a patient who says he broke his arm in two places. The doc, in a streak of brilliance, replies, "Well then, stay out of them places!" (Christianglobe.com).
Perhaps this classic TV show is on to something. We cannot constantly put ourselves into temptation and not be affected. If we believe the tempting situation we are in is under our control, then we are only diluting ourselves. This is why Solomon declares, "Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?28Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?" (Proverbs 6:27-28). We will get "burned" if we believe that we can handle tempting situations ourselves.
The truth about temptation is that we are never able to combat it ourselves. The apostle Peter understood this idea of temptation. Soon after Jesus' arrest at the hand of Lazarus, Peter fell to the temptation to deny his Savior three times, just as Christ predicted, because he believed himself to be over the power of temptation. His pride eventually got the best of him.
Later, when writing his first epistle, though, Peter emphasized the importance of being self-controlled three times--in prayer, in living in the world, and when fighting temptation (1 Peter 1:13, 4:17, 5:8). He understood that we have a world of temptations to overcome, and the only way to live for Christ in its midst, is to "cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you in a spirit of self-control (1 Peter 5:8).
Whatever your temptation is, do not think you can overcome it yourself. Rather, rely fully on God to overcome the temptation. That is a prayer you can't hesitate to make. Faith Lesson: Only God can help you overcome Satan's temptations.
In Christ,
Darin Smith
READ: Proverbs 7:1-23
1 Corinthians 16:13 (NIV) "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong."
On the 1970's TV show "Hee Haw," Doc Campbell, one of the show's most famous actors, is confronted by a patient who says he broke his arm in two places. The doc, in a streak of brilliance, replies, "Well then, stay out of them places!" (Christianglobe.com).
Perhaps this classic TV show is on to something. We cannot constantly put ourselves into temptation and not be affected. If we believe the tempting situation we are in is under our control, then we are only diluting ourselves. This is why Solomon declares, "Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?28Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?" (Proverbs 6:27-28). We will get "burned" if we believe that we can handle tempting situations ourselves.
The truth about temptation is that we are never able to combat it ourselves. The apostle Peter understood this idea of temptation. Soon after Jesus' arrest at the hand of Lazarus, Peter fell to the temptation to deny his Savior three times, just as Christ predicted, because he believed himself to be over the power of temptation. His pride eventually got the best of him.
Later, when writing his first epistle, though, Peter emphasized the importance of being self-controlled three times--in prayer, in living in the world, and when fighting temptation (1 Peter 1:13, 4:17, 5:8). He understood that we have a world of temptations to overcome, and the only way to live for Christ in its midst, is to "cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you in a spirit of self-control (1 Peter 5:8).
Whatever your temptation is, do not think you can overcome it yourself. Rather, rely fully on God to overcome the temptation. That is a prayer you can't hesitate to make. Faith Lesson: Only God can help you overcome Satan's temptations.
In Christ,
Darin Smith
