Tuesday, February 1, 2022
There’s Always a Way Out
“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12 NLT).
We may think that if we’re really spiritual, we never will be tempted. But that isn’t true. Every Christian will be tempted. The fact is that if you’re really living a godly life, you will be tempted. That’s because the Devil doesn’t want you to succeed. He will oppose you.
As my friend Erwin Lutzer has said, “Temptation is not a sin; it is a call to battle.” Just because the bait is dangled before you, it doesn’t mean that you’re sinning. It isn’t the bait that constitutes temptation and sin. It’s the bite. It isn’t a sin to be tempted.
You might be saying “I get tempted all the time. What’s wrong with me?”
Maybe it’s not what’s wrong with you but what’s right with you. In the book of Job, we find an instance where God was bragging about his servant Job (1:8 NLT). And what happened next? A series of attacks came against him.
This reminds us that sometimes the attacks we’re facing actually are a result of living a godly life, not an ungodly one.
So can temptation be resisted? Yes. In fact, God will not allow you to be tempted above your capacity to resist (see 1 Corinthians 10:13). Sometimes the way out is as simple as walking out the door, hitting the off button, or terminating a conversation. But there is always a way out.
And not only is there a way out, but there’s a blessing attached for the person who resists temptation. James 1:12 says, “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” (NLT).
So if you’re going through a trial right now, if you’re going through a time of testing or temptation, know this: You can grow stronger through it instead of weaker.
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