I'm not used to thinking about temptations as an opportunity to do good! But, as I worked my way through the chapter, I was encouraged: "temptation simply provides a choice."
Temptation isn't really a word that gets used a lot anymore. Probably because the word "sin" doesn't get used much anymore. Sin is a good generic word to describe all the wrong behavior that we do, in the eyes of God, of others, and ourselves.
Sin can be small, it can be catastrophic; it can be thoughtless, it can be malicious. And the temptation to sin can be obvious, but we can also be oblivious. But to grow through our temptations, that requires self-reflection and the power to choose.
I see how the power of sin in my life wreaks havoc, and I continue to be reminded of the power of temptation. I often give in before I even realize what just happened. But even then I have a choice: do I repent or do I relent.
And then what - do I pray and ask for help, do I seek help in order to succeed next time? Or do I just accept the failure and merely resent the consequences? This is where having good friends who will care and speak truth into your life can be such an anchor when the strong currents of temptation come swirling through.
This was encouraging:
While temptation is Satan's primary weapon to destroy you, God wants to use it to develop you. Every time you choose to do good instead of sin, you are growing in the character of Christ. To understand this, you must first identify the qualities of Jesus.
One of the most concise descriptions of his character is the fruit of the Spirit: "When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." These nine qualities are an expansion of the Great Commandment and portray a beautiful description of Jesus Christ. To have the fruit of the Spirit is to be like Christ.
God develops the fruit of the Spirit in your life by allowing you to experience circumstances in which you're tempted to express the exact opposite quality! Character development always involves a choice, and temptation provides that opportunity.
God uses the opposite situation of each fruit to allow us a choice. You can't claim to be good if you've never had the opportunity to be unfaithful. Every time you defeat a temptation, you become more like Jesus!
Here's a helpful thought on how temptations affect us:
We think temptation lies around us, but God says it begins within us. If you didn't have the internal desire, the temptation could not attract you. Temptation always starts in your mind, not in circumstances. Jesus said, "For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, eagerness for lustful pleasure, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within."
Temptation preys upon our doubts, and it gains power through deception. We indulge in the temptation because we choose to believe that a pleasurable or desirable outcome is pretty much guaranteed. But temptations always distort reality, and they blind us to the true consequences. How many times do we regret a decision that ultimately was rooted in a temptation? If only we could have seen what would happen!
This is why listening to the Holy Spirit is so crucial - we need the prompt in our conscience to resist the temptation, to get an outside power to help us. The Holy Spirit can also help us recognize habits and patterns we get into that set us up for failure when it comes to temptations.
Ask yourself, "When am I most tempted? What day of the week? What time of day?" Ask, "Where am I most tempted? At work? At home? At a neighbor's house? At a sports bar? In an airport or motel out of town?"
Ask, "Who is with me when I"m most tempted? Friends? Coworkers? A crowd of strangers? When I'm alone?" Also ask, "How do I actually feel when I am most tempted?" It may be when you are tired or lonely or bored or depressed or under stress. It may be when you've been hurt or angry or worried, or after a big success or spiritual high.
You should identify your typical pattern of temptation and then prepare to avoid those situations as much as possible.
It's remarkable that God is so committed to helping us overcome temptations, learn from our temptations, and bring good through our failures with temptations. God's love for us is not lessened through being tempted or giving in to them. Often times this is when we begin to realize how much God really does love us!
The Bible guarantees that our cry for help will be heard because Jesus is sympathetic to our struggle. He faced the same temptations we do. He, "understands our weakness, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin."
...God never gets irritated, bored, or impatient when we keep coming back to him. The Bible says, "Let us have confidence, then, and approach God's throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it."
What are the temptations that are infecting your life? What's the character traits that God is focusing on these days? What must you do different in order to grow through these temptations to become more like Jesus?
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