2003-02-28 - Sin

This devotional is about something that I struggle with everyday, and so do you. I know you do, not because I am amazingly wise, but because I know that you're human. The topic is temptation. We are have to deal with it, and we all have to make decisions about how we will deal with it. The devil uses it to get at us, to try to steal our souls. We have to remember that God is always with us and is willing to give us the strength we need to overcome the temptations the devil puts in front of us.

Jesus knew that we were going to be tempted every day of our lives, and that some of the time, we would fall to that temptation. In Luke 4: 1-13, Jesus spent 40 days in the desert. Three times during that period, He was tempted by the devil. He was tempted to turn a stone into bread, but as Jesus always did, He used the gospel to teach and defend Himself. He says that man does not live on bread alone, but on the word of God.

He was then tempted to worship the devil in return for all the kingdoms of the Earth, but again Jesus resisted and replied, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only'." Lastly, the devil told him to throw himelf off the highest point of the temple, because it is written "He will command his angels concerning you to gaurd you carefully. They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." But Jesus refused and replied, "It also says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

Jesus was perfect and therefore never sinned, but He knew that we would, so He showed us what we should strive to do when we are tempted.

Romans 7:14-20 This a wild passage; it is a little hard to follow, so read it aloud. "We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself whodo it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who it, but it is sin living in me that does it."I told you, it's crazy. But it's the truth, so I guess whether you like it or not, that's what we have to believe.

We all sin, but it's not all hopeless. God is with us to strengthen us, and help us to overcome the temptations we are faced with. Even when we do turn away from God and fall in to the temptations, God forgives us and will love us, no matter what.

The Word of God, For the Children of God, "Thanks be to God."

God Bless,

I love you all,

Derek

derek@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org