Thursday, June 13, 2019

Overcoming Temptation

All people experience temptation in one way or another. All of us have yielded to temptation, "for all have sinned" (Romans 3:23). God is faithful to give us the way to overcome temptations. Someone may ask, "What is the way?" Jesus said, "I am the way" (John 14:6). Jesus was tempted as we are. He overcame every temptation. Christ living in us is the power to overcome your greatest temptation.

Overcoming temptation presents a choice. We may yield to temptation or to Christ. God never takes the choice away, but He is faithful to provide the way out in Christ. There is no question that temptation will come to everyone. The question is about our choice. We may yield or resist. The easy choice is to yield to the desires of our selfish nature. The way of victory is to resist by yielding to Christ.

What is your greatest temptation? You may have come to a point where you think you cannot overcome it. You're right, you can't but He can. Jesus was tempted in the same ways that we are tempted, through the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. He overcame every temptation, and He can do the same through you. 

The Holy Spirit lives in all who believe in the Lord Jesus (Romans 8:9). Our choice is to yield to the temptation or to the Spirit of Christ. Overcome temptation through the power of Christ. "God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).