Temptation, have you ever you ever been there? I remember when my daughter was five, I heard her yell from the bathroom.
"Moooooommm ... I'm REEEALLY tempted to throw my toilet paper into the candle!!"
I remember walking towards the bathroom calmly reminding her of what happened last time... Yes there was a last time!!🤦♀️. Apparently lighting toilet paper on fire is very intriguing for a five year old!
"Remember what happened the last time you lit your toilet paper on fire? It burned up quickly and out of panic you threw it! Luckily, it landed in the toilet, but sometimes in a panic we don't think clearly, and that toilet paper fire could have started a much bigger fire!"🧻🔥🚒
Unsure of whether or not I'd find my daughter swinging a wad of flamming toilet paper, I peered into the bathroom🫣. Relieved, I discovered that she had heeded my warning and had already moved past the temptation.
So... Have you been there? Temptation, that awful feeling of WANTING to do something you KNOW you shouldn't! I can't say I've ever been tempted to light my toilet paper on fire, but I've definitely experienced my own kind of temptations.
I love how my daughter called out her temptation as it was happening.
"Mooooommm, I'm really tempted to throw my toilet paper into the candle"
Her young 5 year old mind so curious and full of wonder simply wanted to have a science experiment that involved my candle and some toilet paper! She understood it wasn't a good idea, but still she was eager to test her hypotheses that were already forming. She didn't trust herself alone with that temptation, after all last time it got the best of her, and there she was in sheer panic holding a wad of flamming toilet paper! In a moment of great urgency she yelled out for my help!
Now, of course, my initial internal reaction was...
"Again... Seriously?!?!?! ... Don't you dare put your toilet paper into that candle!!"
But, in a split second I came to my senses realizing that an abrupt response would inevitably lead to possible shame or embarrassment. After all, I want to teach my girls that they can tell me anything they are tempted to do. So, by the grace of God, I remained calm! I was able to logically talk about the risks and bring about the gentle reminder of last time.
I wonder how God sees us in our temptation?? Is it like my first initial reaction to my daughter? Does God see us in our weakness and say, "Oh please... This one again?!?!" Or does He lovingly extend His help with a gentle reminder, a still small voice. Jesus himself knows and understands temptation. When He was tempted what did He use to defeat the tempter? He used the Word of God! God himself came down as man and showed us how to overcome temptation, through His word and with the help of his spirit.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! Philippians 4:13
Gods laws are for our good. The ways of God lead to life. The ways of the world lead to destruction. God told Adam and Eve not to eat from one tree, that tree would lead to death. Eve was tempted, "Did God really say? what would really happen? Go ahead just try it!" Tempted, Eve took the first step and reached out for the tree. She reached for the spark that lit the fire that led to destruction for all mankind!
What do you suppose would have happened if Eve called out to God in that moment of temptation...
God, heeeeellllp!!! Did you really say we can't eat from this tree?!?! I'm very tempted right now!!!!
Would God have come alongside with a gentle reminder of His word? What about in my temptations, what if I called out to God?
God, heeeeellllp!!! I'm completely overwhelmed and I'm feeling so angry right now!! Help me, I'm so tempted to take it out on my husband and kids!!!
Will God come alongside me with a gentle reminder of His word.
Be still and know that I am God!! Psalm 46:10
Just like with any temptation, that flaming wad of toilet paper started out as an innocent idea... "What would happen if I put this into the candle?" 🤔. The spark that lit the fire quickly got out of hand and could have caused a much bigger fire. In the same way what temptations in our lives are getting too close to the spark that will light the fire and lead to destruction?!
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