What do Tiger Woods, Ben Roethlisberger, and Lawrence Taylor have in common? They’re famous athletes who recently gave in to temptation. Lest this email turn into a celebrity bashing party, let me issue a reminder: “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23, New Living Translation). Maybe you haven’t succumbed to lust, but we all have areas where God is still working on us. That’s why the writer compels us: “… let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up” (Hebrews 12:1, New Living Translation).
So, how do you beat temptation? Again, Jesus has the answer. In the verses included with this email, Jesus was facing the great tempter – Satan (see Luke 4:1-13). Throughout this experience, Satan hit Jesus with the big three: lust of the flesh (turn stones to bread), lust of the eye (look at these kingdoms), and the pride of life (jump off this pinnacle). Despite Satan’s unrelenting assault, Jesus didn’t give in. Why? He was full of the Word and used it to resist Satan.
The Word will help you through temptation. All you have to do is trust and speak what it says. The psalmist wrote, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11, New Living Translation). Use your sword (see Ephesians 6:17) to combat the enemy!