“I’m tempted,” George thought while staring at the internet-connected computer screen. Then he repeated quietly to himself, “I’m tempted.”
He wasn’t being lured by pornography, gambling, etc. George is a commodity trader. From his home office, he’s jockeying for position in the world futures market. He was tempted to ride the market a couple more upticks to achieve a higher profit for the day.
Now George is an oddity among traders, because he believes God has given him a very detailed cocoa-futures trading system.
His temptation? To tweak God’s system that day. The money seemed to be right there. And his family sure could use it to bridge their present financial challenges. But George knew what to do. He wrapped up for the day, shut-off the computer, and did his daily Bible study.
Here’s what George has learned:
1. Temptation is not from God. Immediately recognize the source of: “I’m being tempted.” Matthew 4:1 says: “Then Jesus was…tempted by the devil.” Then three verses later the devil is simply called, “The tempter.” And he made his first Biblical appearance as Eve’s tempter.
2. The Bible tells us: “No temptation has seized us except what is common to man.” There is nothing new coming from “the tempter.” Essentially all temptations are an enticement to be disobedient to God. Same for Eve. Or George. Or Jesus. Or you.
3. As the Bible says, “God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” Temptation will always be part of the human experience. But God has promised us freedom from its grips.
4. Scriptures tells us: “He (God) will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it,” Then the next words offer God’s best anti-temptation plan: “Therefore, my dear friend flee…” Flee from temptation!
He wasn’t being lured by pornography, gambling, etc. George is a commodity trader. From his home office, he’s jockeying for position in the world futures market. He was tempted to ride the market a couple more upticks to achieve a higher profit for the day.
Now George is an oddity among traders, because he believes God has given him a very detailed cocoa-futures trading system.
His temptation? To tweak God’s system that day. The money seemed to be right there. And his family sure could use it to bridge their present financial challenges. But George knew what to do. He wrapped up for the day, shut-off the computer, and did his daily Bible study.
Here’s what George has learned:
1. Temptation is not from God. Immediately recognize the source of: “I’m being tempted.” Matthew 4:1 says: “Then Jesus was…tempted by the devil.” Then three verses later the devil is simply called, “The tempter.” And he made his first Biblical appearance as Eve’s tempter.
2. The Bible tells us: “No temptation has seized us except what is common to man.” There is nothing new coming from “the tempter.” Essentially all temptations are an enticement to be disobedient to God. Same for Eve. Or George. Or Jesus. Or you.
3. As the Bible says, “God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” Temptation will always be part of the human experience. But God has promised us freedom from its grips.
4. Scriptures tells us: “He (God) will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it,” Then the next words offer God’s best anti-temptation plan: “Therefore, my dear friend flee…” Flee from temptation!
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