In my devotions this morning I read the following scripture from Matthew 18:7b
"Temptation is inevitable but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting."
Ouch! I was talking to a friend recently as we stood in the line to pay for our groceries. Like most supermarkets there is a perfectly placed stand of temptation right where you wait to pay. Chocolates and snacks and all sorts....no literally "All-Sorts" [its the name of a sweet that I enjoy].
The person is not from South Africa and was very perturbed. They were going on about how unjust it is to have the stands there. How the managers should be made accountable for their actions because they are tempting people. My friend was getting more and more passionate about how unfair it is.
He is right, and the scripture above surely lends towards that. Tempters will and should be held accountable, in the area of sin. And when we move away from the supermarket isle and look at tempters in general, pertaining to sin, it amazes me how its not usually just one sin in operation. Ever noticed how a person oozing seduction is also a master at deceit and manipulation? it's like these things not only work hand in hand but also feed off each other.
Woe to the tempters. . . really not cool what they are doing.
However.
Woe to the ones who don't exercise self-control and give in to the temptation. As much as i agreed with my friend, that the store was not being fair by dangling temptation in our faces, at a place where people are waiting their turn. The truth is that neither my friend nor I bought any of the chocolates/sweets that were tempting us. We exercised self-control and made it out the door. As much as the temptation was there, I am a grown up, and a christian, and I have been given the ability to exercise free will. I am not a 2 year old stomping its foot till its mom gives in and buys the sweet.
No matter how tempting a situation or sin, or circumstance . . . you are equally responsible if you give in to it. end of story. At the end of the day you will stand before God and give account for your actions. And the world is full of temptation. it is. and people will also try and tempt you. . . but whether you give in or not is your choice and your responsibility.
God, as always, is faithful and promises a way out. And nothing is new under the sun. You are not unique in this aspect, all are exposed to the same sin, but not all choose to walk in that sin.
1 Corinthians 10:13
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.
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