Temptations! Fight or Flight

What value is there in fighting temptations that are ever-present? The other option is to be submissive to whatever life presents. Listen to Albert Camus’ rationale: "There are so many strong temptations, why not accept them as virtues." This attitude of nonresistance is dangerous, and the consequences can be devastating.

The cutting edge of temptation does not discriminate between the strong or weak, the deserving or undeserving, but God without fail provides an escape from its power. The apostle Paul gave this warning, "If someone is caught up in temptation, make every effort to rescue them, but keep on guard so that you are not tempted as well."

The value of fighting temptation is so you can keep a clean heart before God instead of guilt and anxiety pressing in on you. Winning the battle to defeat temptation is important because you can sympathize with others struggling to overcome its power. Fighting strengthens your commitment to Christ by building courage to face temptation’s next assault. 

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Be self-controlled and vigilant always, for your enemy the devil is always about, prowling like a lion roaring for its prey. Resist him, standing firm in your faith, remembering that the strain is the same for all your fellow-Christians in other parts of the world.

~1 Peter 5:8-9 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

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Beware of Evil, Prowling Lions

Opportunities that come our way can be to secure our betterment or to create a disaster. Some opportunities build bridges to prosperity, happiness and joy. Others build bridges to failure and suffering. After Joseph adjusted to life as a slave, his peace and comfort began to unravel when Potiphar’s wife began making sexual advances. 

Genesis 39:7 portrays her objective. “Come to bed with me.” Now listen to Joseph’s integrity. “My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I commit such wicked sin?” These attempts at seduction became more provocative and an endless temptation. 

          Being acutely aware of what God considered sin played a major role in helping Joseph keep his distance. He refused to permit his capacity for godly judgment to be over-shadowed by evil opportunities. Allow Joseph’s witness to inspire you to remain faithful to God’s grace and mercy. Choose to live only by standards that bring glory and honor to God.  

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Be careful – watch out for attacks from Satan, your great enemy. He prowls around like a hungry, roaring lion, looking for some victim to tear apart. Stand firm when he attacks. Trust the Lord, and remember that other Christians all around the world are going through these sufferings, too.

~1 Peter 5:8-9 The Living Bible

Hate Consumes and Distorts

Everyone has hated something or someone. Timothy McVeigh symbolized how hatred can so consume a person that their moral character and values are diminished to the point of rejecting any sense of godly responsibility. Most people were relieved when McVeigh was executed for killing 168 people by bombing the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

There wasn't much press about McVeigh’s mental condition because he so precisely acted on his passion to punish the government for all the injustices he believed were orchestrated against certain groups of citizens. The recipients of the hate that possessed him had no recourse but to be murdered innocently by his bomb. 

Hate distorts the values of those who allow it to permeate their lives. Hate starts with a thought that begins to saturate the body, mind and spirit like yeast. Satan is the epitome of hate and evil, so resist Satan and the impulse to hate. Active faith and trust in Christ Jesus diminish Satan’s power to control you.

Jealousy's Grip

Jealousy serves many purposes, and most are basically negative. It's possible that every person will stoop to jealousy. The reason is that no one's self-esteem is perfect, so self-esteem parallels the degree of jealousy felt and acted upon. Cain killed his brother Abel because Abel’s offering was acceptable to God, while his was rejected.

  

If Cain's self-esteem had been healthier, perhaps he could have asked his brother to help him understand what he needed to do to make himself acceptable to God. Jealousy is dangerous because it can set you on a course of behavior that is irreversible. When objectivity is lost, a person is at the mercy of raw instincts and emotions.

In a fit of jealousy Rachel lost her objectivity and blamed Jacob because she was unable to become pregnant, which hurt and angered Jacob. Think clearly about jealousy’s demands and release those demands to the Lord God. Do it until you are released from jealousy. You will feel at peace with God, yourself and others.