Home
> Teens > Faith & Life > Devotionals
 Sign up for our free newsletters:
|
|
Campus Life, May/June 2001
How Do I Resist Temptation?
Eve must have thought that piece of fruit was going to taste pretty good, maybe better than any she'd ever had before. But as she and Adam soon learned, God had a reason for making it off limits. They may have enjoyed the taste for a moment, but the guilt and regret lasted a whole lot longer.
The students who wrote these devotions are learning, like Adam and Eve did, that giving into temptation may be fun at first, but the consequences are never worth it.
A Way Out
"[God] 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 stand up under it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Ever since the Garden of Eden, people have faced temptation. For Adam and Eve, it was the forbidden fruit. For me, it could be drugs or sex or cheating or lying.
Fortunately, God makes two important promises for me to remember when I'm being tempted. First, he'll make sure the temptation is never more than I can bear. It might be more than I can handle by myself, but it can't possibly be more than God can handle. He's always there for me to lean on.
Second, God promises to give me a way out of the temptation. He'll show me the way if I ask. He's already given me a lot of advice in the Bible. Memorizing his Word helps me to know the right thing to do. Without God, I wouldn't have a chance against temptation. With God, I know I can stand strong. —Sarah
What About You?
1) What are some ways God helps you escape temptation?
2) Memorize 1 Corinthians 10:13 and repeat it to yourself when you feel tempted.
3) Talk to God about the temptations you face; ask him to help you resist them.
Playing with Fire
"Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?" (Proverbs 6:27-28)
Imagine looking through a store window at something you really want. But the store is closed. Would you break the window and steal it? Of course not!
It's kind of like that with sexual temptation. If you give in, you might be happy for a few minutes, or even a few days, but in the end there are real consequences. The guilt starts to set in. So does the regret.
That's why these verses mean a lot to me. Basically they say that I can't play with fire for very long without getting burned. Sooner or later, the consequences of sin will catch up with me. When I think of it that way, it isn't hard to say no. —Robyn
What About You?
1) Think about a time when you were tempted to sin. How did you respond? What helped you or could have helped you resist temptation?
2) Think of the characteristics of fire—what it's like, what it does, and so on. Reread the two verses for today. Why do you think the author of Proverbs compares sexual temptation with fire?
3) Ask God for strength to resist temptation and to help you make wise decisions.
Think About It
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)
Have you ever tried to think about two things at once? Your locker combination and everything you ate yesterday? Your favorite song and the capital of South Dakota? It doesn't work, does it? You can think of one thing and then the other, but not both at the same time.
That's why Paul's advice in Philippians 4:8 is so great. If you're thinking about things that are true and pure, there's no way you can be thinking about stuff that's false or dirty. Filling your mind with thoughts of God leaves no room for the trash you shouldn't be thinking about anyway.
When I keep my thoughts on God, my actions follow right along. I stay close to him, and he stays close to me. —Karen
What About You?
1) What are some situations that make it difficult for you to keep your thoughts clean? How can you avoid them?
2) List a dozen good, God-honoring things to think about. Spend time thinking about those things today.
3) Ask God to help you control your thoughts.
Stand Strong!
Passages to read and study:
Genesis 3:1-7
how temptation began
James 1:13-15
God doesn't tempt us
Matthew 26:41
pray to avoid temptation
Genesis 39:6-15
run from temptation
Matthew 4:1-11
Jesus' response to temptation
Hebrews 2:18
Jesus understands
Titus 2:11-12
grace teaches us self-control
1 Peter 5:8-10
be on guard
1 Corinthians 10:12
don't be overconfident
Try This!
Write about each passage in a journal or notebook. Here are some ideas to help you get started:
1) What does this passage tell you about temptation?
2) What are three questions you have about this passage? Write down your own answers, then ask a Christian friend or your youth leader how they would answer. Write down their answers, too.
3) Ask God to help you make the right decisions when you face temptation.
4) Using the devotions in "Faith Builders" as a model, write your own devotion based on the passage.
The devotions in this section were taken from The NIV Teen Devotional Bible (Zondervan). Featuring 260 devotions written by students, this Bible also offers help for personal and spiritual growth. |
Copyright © 2001 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Campus Life.
May/June 2001, Vol. 59, No. 9, Page 10
Questions or comments about this article? |
Do you love it? Hate it? We want to know!
E-mail us at:
(Just be sure to include your first and last names, hometown, and state.) |
Browse More Ignite Your Faith
Home | Advice | Hot Topics | True-life Stories | Music
Faith & Life | Humor & Fun | College Guide | Soul Journey
Resources | Archives | Contact Us
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Try an Issue of Ignite Your Faith
Free!
|
 |
|
No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders.
If you decide you want to keep Ignite Your Faith coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive eight more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless.
Give Ignite Your Faith as a gift
Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
Subscribe to the Christian College Guide Newsletter:
|
|
Christian College Guide
Search schools by:
Location & Setting | Majors & Degrees | Enrollment
Affiliation | Athletics | Costs, Scholarships & Grants
Advanced Search | List All Schools
| |
|
