But Daniel resolved not to defile himself….
--Daniel 1:8
There’s no doubt that you’ve experienced temptation in any number of situations. I have, too.
The best definition of temptation that I know is this: Temptation is the seduction or a solicitation to fulfill a God-given desire in a God-forbidden way.
Now, you may have been surprised when you came to Christ that you were still tempted. Perhaps you thought all of those seductions would go away.
But no, even as Christ-followers, you and I will be tempted all of our lives. This is true for every area of our lives, and it is certainly true when it comes to sexual temptation.
You see, God gave the gift of sex, but it is a gift to be cherished and nurtured in the boundaries and the blessings and the beauty of a marriage commitment. That’s what the Bible teaches.
The Bible also teaches that Jesus Christ not only died for your sins, he died to give you victory over temptation. You no longer have to live under the power and the dominion of sin in your life.
So today, right now, pray for the strength to resist and defeat temptation and to build the moral fiber and character that honors God. Every success you experience will enable you to resist the next temptation that comes your way.
EVERY TIME YOU RESIST TEMPTATION, YOU BUILD CHARACTER AND HONOR GOD.
Friday, August 09, 2019
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.”
Exodus 17:12–14
Joshua was tasked with leading the soldiers of Israel in battle against the Amalekites. But though the military conflict was real and intense, that is not where the real battle was taking place. Above the field of battle, Moses stood praying for victory. As long as he held the rod aloft Israel was winning, but when he grew tired, the Amalekites had the upper hand. The solution to Moses’ fatigue was for Aaron and Hur to hold up Moses’ arms until the victory was won. But after that victory, God had a very pointed instruction to Moses for Joshua—to have this story written down and repeated in the future so that it would not be forgotten.
The natural human tendency is for us to take credit for the things God has done. We want to lift up ourselves and brag about our power, but it is only in His strength that real victory comes. “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). Every work that we do for God must be done in His power if it is to succeed. We do not bring victory over evil and sin by our effort or will or strength.
Today's Growth Principle:
Do not ever forget that God alone deserves the credit for every victory we win.
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