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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.

"[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

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.

"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

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.

"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."

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