SUNDAY CHOICE – YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION – by Charles Schokman
As I write this devotion, I remember my inadequacies. This is indeed humbling. I cannot become self-righteous or arrogant knowing that we all face life’s temptations. What tempts me may not tempt you. Nevertheless, rest assured we are all tempted. Our temptations come in a variety of forms, which is why we cannot judge or criticize someone else. By the grace of God, we could have fallen into the hands of temptation. God’s power saves us. Temptations are a part of life. We just cannot yield to it. Let me be clear. I am not simply talking about sexual temptations. I am talking about temptations of all kinds including greed and dishonesty. The list is too long to name. Rather, let us look at the scripture reference found in Luke 22:40.
“There He told them, ‘Pray that you will not give in to temptation.’”
After Jesus left the Upper Room to go to the Mt. of Olives, He told His disciples, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.” Christ’s suffering was near, and He prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Christ awakened the sleeping disciples and told them to pray so that they would not enter into temptation. As you read further, we see that Judas did betray Jesus with a kiss and the other disciples abandoned the Master when He needed them. It is amazing that at times when the Lord needs us, we find ourselves yielding to temptation and going the other way. The songwriter said, “Yield not into temptation, for yielding is sin. Each victory will help you some other to win.” It is not that temptation is sinful; it is the yielding that is sinful. Examine the temptation in your heart today and ask God for the strength not to yield.
Courtesy of Robin Hinton—Bethlehem Baptist Church.
Join in the singing of this hymn and pray it will be a blessing to you.
You are welcome to pass this on.
