I Have A Choice?

The only temptation that has come to you is that which everyone has. But you can trust God, who will not permit you to be tempted more than you can stand. But when you are tempted, he will also give you a way to escape so that you will be able to stand it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 

 

Have you ever said or done something and told yourself "I just couldn't help myself"?  I have and found out that excuse is nothing short of a lie!  Every decision we make will have consequences; some will be good and some will be regrettable, but EVERY SINGLE decision we make will have consequences.

 

Yeah, yeah, I know "Padre's getting all preachy again."  Well, yes and no.  Stop and think about it for a minute, the temptation you are facing is not something new.  Let's say you are having an honest discussion with your spouse, something is said that could be taken wrong (because we're too busy thinking about how we can shut this discussion down so we aren't LISTENING) and an argument ensues.  Then comes the name calling, the questioning of parentage, things getting slammed, doors banging...all because we CHOSE not to listen.

 

Even the things we don't think "no one will be hurt" has far reaching consequences.  For example, you are perusing the internet and a risque photo appears.  Do you keep scrolling past it or do you look at it and even click on it. You CHOOSE to click on it...and then your kids or grandkids or spouse walks in....  No one will be hurt?

 

Temptation starts slowly.  It begins with a thought (because all actions are preceded by thought).  And, let's face it, if sin weren't enjoyable, we'd all be perfect! (and asparagas is EVIL by the way!).  But every temptation has a way out.  Sometimes it takes literally walking away to get away from it.  Because once temptation gets its claws in you, it can become an addiction which is very difficult to shake.

 

Jesus was tempted directly by Satan, more than once, and Jesus' way out...was to reply with Scripture.  Like my Grampa used to tell me: "What's in your well will come up in your bucket."

 

What's in your well?