MANAGING TEMPTATION

Mark 14:38 “Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation”

A story was once told about the Union Pacific Railroad Line as it was being constructed. At one location along the route an elaborate trestle bridge was built across a large canyon in the west. Wanting to test the bridge, the builder loaded a train with enough extra cars and equipment to double its normal payload. The train was then driven to the middle of the bridge, where it stayed an entire day. One worker asked, "Are you trying to break this bridge?" "No," the builder replied, "I’m trying to prove that the bridge won’t break".

In the same way, then, we ought to look at the temptations we face as an opportunity to overcome in the spirit. An opportunity to show that we will not sin. You see, it is up to us to allow God to take control of these areas of our lives.

JAMES 1:14-15, tells us, “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”

The challenge for us then is to handle temptation in a godly way. It will come to all of us, but what will we do with it? Benjamin Franklin offered great advice when he said, “It is easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it." It sounds to me like Mr. Franklin had a clear understanding of 1 Corinthians 10:13 that says, “No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.”

Yielding to temptation can have devastating effects upon on spiritual being. We have all been tempted. We all know that temptation comes in various shapes and sizes and to varying degrees. This is the reason Jesus used the word temptation in our scripture. Jesus didn’t want his disciples to fall prey to temptation. He encouraged them to continue in prayer so that they would have the necessary strength to overcome the temptations that would surely come. Jesus also knew that they were human, which is why he encouraged them to “watch and pray”. It implies that they should remain on alert to the spiritual dangers that were out there.

By praying we signify our dependence on God. We acknowledge our need for him to seal our hearts, to give us clear direction, and to deliver us from evil. Jesus concluded this discourse by saying, “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Jesus is literally telling us all that God’s spirit is willing to supply the much needed strength and support in every area of our human weakness and inadequacies. Despite our good intentions, we will get overwhelmed and defeated if we try to fight and resist in our own power. Let us manage our temptations by remaining connected to the Father and submitted to his will.