Sucker Punch – Conquering Addiction - Friday
Today’s Verse
James 1:14-15
…but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (NIV)
I have to admit, there are times I have lost myself in watching short videos online. They are all over the place. My favorite videos are dog videos. Every once in a while some sort of video challenge pops up. A few years ago, a video challenge went viral. It was called the toddler temptation challenge. Parents would sit their toddlers down at a table and place candy in front of them. The parents would then give the instruction not to eat the candy until the parent returned. The parent would leave the room and the toddlers were faced with the temptation of the sugary treat in front of them. The children had the desire to eat the candy and the opportunity while the parent was away. The struggle for these young kiddos was real and hilarity ensued.
The toddler temptation challenge illustrates the spiritual equation for temptation.
Opportunity + Desire = Temptation
This equation plays out in 2 Samuel 11:2-5:
One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.) Then she went back home. The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”
In the story of David and Bathsheba, we see that King David had a desire for Bathsheba and, being alone on the roof, he also had the opportunity—temptation was born. King David then acted upon his desire and sin was conceived.
If left unchecked, the temptation equation will compound:
Opportunity + Desire + Action = Sin
AND
Opportunity + Desire + Action + No Forgiveness = Death
The good news is that before we take action and sin, God always provides a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13). And still, we may fall into temptation and sin. But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness (1 John 1:9 NLT).
REFLECTION
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (ESV). Do you believe God will provide you a way out of temptation? Pray for the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the “way out” provided by God. The “way out” is found in Him!