“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:38 NKJV)

 

Have you ever been caught doing something you weren’t supposed to do? One day I found my son playing a game on the computer, something he wasn’t allowed to do until he finished his schoolwork. With a guilty expression on his face, he looked at me and said, “I couldn’t resist myself.”

That’s a correct view of temptation. When we give in to temptation, we like to blame others. Think of when Adam was caught in the act in the Garden of Eden. The Lord asked, “Did you eat of that tree?” And Adam replied, “It’s the woman You gave me, Lord. She made me do it” (see Genesis 3:8–12).

And then there’s Aaron, who offered a classic example of a bad excuse for giving in to temptation. When Moses went up the mountain to receive God’s commandments, he entrusted the people to his brother Aaron. When Moses returned, he saw the people dancing naked around a golden calf. Aaron explained it this way: “We just threw the gold into the fire, and this calf came out.” The truth was that Aaron told the people to bring their gold jewelry. He molded it into a calf. And then he encouraged them to worship it (see Exodus 32:22–24).

James 1:14 leaves little room for bad excuses. “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed” (NKJV). Every person plays the key role when they give in to temptation. The devil may tempt you. Someone may try to trap you. But they will not succeed unless you give in.

The Bible makes it clear that no temptation is irresistible. “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 10:13 NLT).

“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7 NLT).

Despite those assurances, temptation is shockingly easy to give in to. But you probably don’t need to be told that. Perhaps there’s a sin in your life that’s caught up with you. Perhaps you’re contemplating getting involved in a sinful relationship. Perhaps because of your sin, you’ve been overcome with guilt. If so, there’s something you need to know: God gives second chances.

First John 1:9 says, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (NLT).

And David, who knew a thing or two about giving in to temptation and seeking God’s forgiveness, wrote, “He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust” (Psalm 103:10–14 NLT).

 

Reflection question: What is your most effective strategy for avoiding or resisting temptation?

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The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

 

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

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&ldquo;Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.&rdquo; (Mark 14:38 NKJV)
&nbsp;
Have you ever been caught doing something you weren&rsquo;t supposed to do? One day I found my son playing a game on the computer, something he wasn&rsquo;t allowed to do until he finished his schoolwork. With a guilty expression on his face, he looked at me and said, &ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t resist myself.&rdquo;
That&rsquo;s a correct view of temptation. When we give in to temptation, we like to blame others. Think of when Adam was caught in the act in the Garden of Eden. The Lord asked, &ldquo;Did you eat of that tree?&rdquo; And Adam replied, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s the woman You gave me, Lord. She made me do it&rdquo; (see Genesis 3:8&ndash;12).
And then there&rsquo;s Aaron, who offered a classic example of a bad excuse for giving in to temptation. When Moses went up the mountain to receive God&rsquo;s commandments, he entrusted the people to his brother Aaron. When Moses returned, he saw the people dancing naked around a golden calf. Aaron explained it this way: &ldquo;We just threw the gold into the fire, and this calf came out.&rdquo; The truth was that Aaron told the people to bring their gold jewelry. He molded it into a calf. And then he encouraged them to worship it (see Exodus 32:22&ndash;24).
James 1:14 leaves little room for bad excuses. &ldquo;But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed&rdquo; (NKJV). Every person plays the key role when they give in to temptation. The devil may tempt you. Someone may try to trap you. But they will not succeed unless you give in.
The Bible makes it clear that no temptation is irresistible. &ldquo;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&rdquo; (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT).
&ldquo;So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you&rdquo; (James 4:7 NLT).
Despite those assurances, temptation is shockingly easy to give in to. But you probably don&rsquo;t need to be told that. Perhaps there&rsquo;s a sin in your life that&rsquo;s caught up with you. Perhaps you&rsquo;re contemplating getting involved in a sinful relationship. Perhaps because of your sin, you&rsquo;ve been overcome with guilt. If so, there&rsquo;s something you need to know: God gives second chances.
First John 1:9 says, &ldquo;But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness&rdquo; (NLT).
And David, who knew a thing or two about giving in to temptation and seeking God&rsquo;s forgiveness, wrote, &ldquo;He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.&nbsp;For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.&nbsp;He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.&nbsp;For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust&rdquo; (Psalm 103:10&ndash;14 NLT).
&nbsp;
Reflection question: What is your most effective strategy for avoiding or resisting temptation?
<a href="https://disciple.harvest.org/spaces/17592429/feed?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestDiscipleship">Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!</a>
&mdash;
The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology.&nbsp;This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."
&nbsp;
All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.
<a href="https://go.pddr.app/glpodcast">Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast</a>
<a href="https://harvest.org/harvest-partner/?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestPartners">Become a Harvest Partner</a>

If you want to be successful in the Christian life, you must have a mind full of God’s Word. Refresh your mind with it daily, right here. Each day, you'll receive a verse and commentary from Pastor Greg Laurie, who offers biblical insight through humor, personal stories, and cultural commentary. Start listening and hear what God has to say to you. 

*The audio production of this podcast utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

If you want to be successful in the Christian life, you must have a mind full of God&rsquo;s Word. Refresh your mind with it daily, right here. Each day, you'll receive a verse and commentary from&nbsp;<a href="https://harvest.org/about-greg-laurie/">Pastor Greg Laurie</a>, who offers biblical insight through humor, personal stories, and cultural commentary. Start listening and hear what God has to say to you.&nbsp;
*The audio production of this podcast utilizes Generative AI technology.&nbsp;This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

Greg Laurie provides commentary on the day's Bible verse.

Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions

Temptation succeeds only if we give in to it.