Temptation
This verse has been a comfort to me. First, it states that all of us go through trials and temptations. We are all tempted, but God has promised a way out.
Temptation is not sin. Yielding to temptation is sin. We are all tempted, but we don't have to yield. God has promised the strength to overcome the temptation and the power not to yield to it. Only in His strength, the Holy Spirit living in us, can we do this.
The temptations that come to us are common to every person. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. In his book 'Dare to Experience True Spirituality', Chip Ingram states that the lust of the flesh is to feel, or hedonism (a devotion to pleasure...ie: sex). The lust of the eyes is to have (materialism...ie: possessions, money). The pride of life is to be (egotism or self-centeredness...ie: status, fame, position).
This is certainly the world system, but not the Heavenly system. The love of the world system is enmity with God. We cannot love the world (world system, not the people) and love God at the same time.
Fortunately, God has given us a way to overcome the world system and the temptations it provides. It is through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. Through Him, the Holy Spirit living within us, we have all strength and power to overcome the evil one and the temptations he throws at us daily.
We have the strength, but God has still given us free will. The choice is ours, we can give in to temptation or we can call upon the strength of the Lord and overcome the way of the world and live a life pleasing to God. With God, nothing is impossible.
Created about 2 years ago
