The benefits of temptation (Part 2)

Bible verse for today: James 1:12 "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."(NIV)

Many Christians confuse temptation for sin which is why we become easy prey for the Devil.

The first thing to understand about temptation is that you were first human before you became a Christian. As a humans you are bound to have tempting thoughts popping up in your heart every now and then, what makes you a Christian is the ability to say no to the Devil by resisting temptation.

Even Jesus Christ was tempted several times in the bible but he knew what the Devil was up to, this simply means your life will never be temptation free, what sets you apart and shames the Devil is the strength to resist him.

The Word for Today devotional by United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) says:

The second misperception is: temptation is sin. The Devil wants you to blame yourself for the temptations you experience. Why? Because when you believe that you are the source of it, you feel condemned and discouraged. As you indulge in feelings of discouragement, you become an easy prey and satan convinces you to go ahead and yield to the temptation. Ironically, you yield to sin through the fear of having already fallen. No, the temptation itself isn’t sin; the sin only occurs when you yield to it! Many of us feel like we’re spiritually deficient, distant from God, even phonies because we think we initiated the temptation ourselves. Imagine a burglar in your house, and when you detect him he accuses you of being the burglar! Would you believe him? Of course not! Yet that’s satan’s approach with us.

After he tempts us, he accuses with thoughts like, ‘A real Christian would never have such thoughts!’ Knowing our own weakness, his accusations sound plausible and we believe him. Then we feel condemned, spiral into discouragement, and yield to the temptation. Understand this: condemnation comes from satan (1 Timothy 3:6 NKJV). The Bible says, ‘Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus’ (Romans 8:1 NIV). When satan sends temptation, the Holy Spirit goes to work in us, helping us to reject his suggestions and reminding us of Jesus’ availability to help us triumph. ‘Because Jesus was tempted as we are…He understands us and He is able to help us when we are tempted’ (Hebrews 2:18). So when you’re tempted, reject satan’s condemnation and reach for Christ’s overcoming assistance.