Alright. I don’t know much about computers, but I am a huge LOLcats fan and in my daily email this morning, I got this which is quite ironic for the very blog I’m doing tonight.
<a href=”http://icanhascheezburger.com/2008/11/24/funny-pictures-not-into-temptashun-is-can-find-it-myself/”><img class=”mine_2491213″ title=”funny-pictures-cat-can-find-temptation-himself” src=”http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/funny-pictures-cat-can-find-temptation-himself.jpg” alt=”funny pictures of cats with captions” /></a><br />more <a href=”http://icanhascheezburger.com”>animals</a>
And for the one I did yesterday….
<a href=”http://icanhascheezburger.com/2008/11/25/funny-pictures-us-dis-dai-r-daily-bred/”><img class=”mine_2508276″ title=”funny-pictures-cat-prays-for-bread-with-cheese-and-burger” src=”http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/funny-pictures-cat-prays-for-bread-with-cheese-and-burger.jpg” alt=”funny pictures of cats with captions” /></a><br />more <a href=”http://icanhascheezburger.com”>animals</a>
The first one does fit what we usually think about temptation. We can find it ourselves thank you very much. Notice that we are told to not be led into sin though. We are told to not be led into temptation. Now obviously, we know from James that God doesn’t tempt us. He tests us, but he does not tempt us.
Tempting is meant to lead us into evil. Testing is meant to show us to ourselves. However, God does ALLOW temptation to occur. Even in that though, we have the biblical promise that we are never tempted beyond what we can bear. Some of us can handle temptations others couldn’t. There are some things that tempt me that would never tempt you and vice-versa.
We should also be keeping careful watch over ourselves to make sure we don’t stumble. I meet many a young man who struggles with internet porn as an example. I have offered myself as an accountability partner to them and this is also done through such organizations as XXXchurch and others which offer help to those struggling with pornography on the internet.
I even have a friend online who keeps me accountable for something some of you might consider silly, but I see it as important. He helps me to make sure that I am reading regularly when I ought instead of spending all of my days off goofing off entirely. Ironically, I’ve found that when I devote some time to reading, it seems I have more time for everything else.
In avoiding sin though, I do have some of my own requirements. I’ve stated before, for instance, that I would never bring a girl back to my apartment if it was just the two of us or even if my roommate was here. He might step out for awhile and temptation would definitely kick in. Some of you might be wondering “Are you the kind of guy that would give in to temptation under that circumstance?” Frankly, I don’t want to find out.
Of course, if it was some group thing like a church gathering, I wouldn’t have those restrictions at my place, but I find them helpful. One sure way to give in to temptation I think is to think that you wouldn’t give into it. Why push your luck? There are safe places you can go with the opposite sex where it will be less likely to give in and there can be much joy in the idea of group dating.
Why avoid temptation though ultimately? Because temptation when given into results in sin and all sin leads us away from God. While the former request of daily bread asks God to sustain our physical needs, this one is about spiritual needs. This one is asking us to not only have God be a reminder to us of our dependance on him day to day, but also that he is keeping an eye on us spiritually lest we fall.
Lord. Lead us not into temptation. We dare not fall from you.
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