The Sin of Proximity: Resistance Is Not Futile
Friday, November 10, 2023
Living Free Every Day®
A ministry of LivingFree.org
Today's Scripture
"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." 1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT
Thoughts for Today
Once in the proximity of sexual temptation, the will to resist is low. The Borg on the science fiction Star Trek television series claimed that "resistance is futile." When we are in certain situations, we might feel that resistance really is futile. But it isn't.
For Christians, resistance to temptation is NEVER futile. In today's Scripture, we are promised that others have had the same temptations… that God won't allow more than we can stand … and that he always provides a way out.
Don't believe the lie that you are the only one who has ever had this temptation. Don't believe the lie that it is more than you can bear. Don't believe the lie that there is no way out. God's promise tells us that resistance is NOT futile!
Consider this …
We can escape temptation, but we cannot fight the battle alone. We need to first put on Jesus—appeal to his mercy and grace—before we can resist even the urge to fulfill sinful desires.
It all circles back to Jesus. He is calling us to obedience, and he promises to give us the strength to do what he is telling us to do. If we will trust him and put him first in our lives, he will always give us the desire and power to do what pleases him.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for your assurance that my situation is not hopeless. I know that with your help, I can overcome—and I really do want to overcome. Show me the way out. Help me to walk in obedience. In Jesus' name …
These thoughts were drawn from … Crossroads: Choosing the Road to Sexual Purity by David E. Longacre.
- Describes the sexual addiction process
- Shows how the sin of proximity often precedes sexual sins
- Shows the way out of sexual addiction
- Presents biblical insights to help a person break free and stay free
- Gives practical actions for renewing the mind
- Shows how recognizing lies can help reject them for the truth of God's Word
- Serves as a powerful evangelistic tool by providing a way to minister to people's felt needs and then pointing them to Christ
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