My mug is filled with Door County Dublin's Delight Coffee and my mind is filled with Friday on the horizon. TGIF all the way.
We all have these things we call urges. Like "I am fighting off the urge to sleep in on Saturday when I know fully well that I have a lot of work to do. Or I have an urge to eat three scoops of frozen custard instead of two. Then, who can eat just two hot dogs?" But are more than two the right thing for me to do? Not according to my doctor.
The word urge can be and should be translated as "temptation". When we feel the urge to go outside of what we know to be right and good for us it is a temptation and all temptation comes from the Dark Side known as Satan. For me to sleep in and avoid work that needs to be done is the temptation to be lazy. If I give in to the urge or temptation knowing that for me it is fully wrong, I have given into sin. Most people don't like the word sin, they prefer not to think of their "slip ups" as the S word. We would do well not to sugar coat giving into temptation or even calling it anything but what it is. Small slip ups that are disguised for what they really are soon enable us to justify bigger things.
Addictions to pornography often start this way. Just a little look for a little while often leads to devastating consequences when the desires become more ravenous.
But as with many things the Bible has an answer for us. With all temptations there is a way out. One of those ways is to learn to say no. That is the first step. The second step is to memorize Scripture so that we are equipped to fight off temptation, just as Jesus did.
Step one NO
Step two. Memorize Scripture Psalm 119:11New International Version (NIV)
11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
There is always a way out of any temptation, if we are willing to seek it out. God provides the way out.
1 Corinthians 10:13New International Version (NIV)
13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Smile it's Friday and you are loved.
Marty
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