Nougat 3

Sometimes it’s hard to imagine that some particular people sin. Not because they’re overbearing and judgemental, just that they seem to have everything so together. I wish to remind us that according to today’s Holy Nougat, we’re all tempted, so chin up or better yet pray up …

“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It may be helpful to define temptation quickly to ensure we’re all on the same page. It is a desire for/toward something that is wrong or unwise; a trial, calamity, or season of testing. Or, in my words, encouragement to fall short of God’s standard ie sin. Yesterday we noted that even Jesus faced temptation; and if we apply the concept of calamity or trial, it is evident that the epistle-writer is not speaking out of turn; we face trials all the time.

When we look at life in general, we can also say that temptations are somewhat similar in form. This is so whether we take the ‘Big 3’ used on Jesus: Gluttony, Vanity and Lust for Power (my terms); or the Seven Deadly Sins (which are rooted in the 8 Evil Thoughts) : Lust, Greed, Gluttony, Avarice, Anger, Laziness, Pride, and Sadness. I would argue however that the biggest temptation is pretense, as far often we fall prey to other temptations when we think ourselves immune to temptation; or we pretend that we didn’t yield or weren’t tempted.

And that’s a challenge for us as believers for it’s pretty hard to get help with a problem we don’t believe exist! Yet, that’s what often entails. It is my opinion that temptation is often a sensory experience, we are beguiled by what we see, taste, smell, touch, and hear, as well as by what we remember. This begs the questions, do we have an idea of the things that tempt us the most, and which sense is most susceptible to temptation?

Following on this is an invitation to heed the children’s chorus ‘Watch our eyes, our ears, our lips, our hands, and feet!’ (aka O Be Careful Little Eyes)

Tomorrow, withstanding

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May all we seek be found in Christ