Why Is Temptation So Powerful?
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your desire to do what you know is wrong? Why does sin have such a strong magnetic force that at times it seems to have a stronger pull than our faith? Is there any way we can overcome our sinful nature?
I’m sorry to say that according to scripture, the answer is no. Not only that, but even our New Testament heroes like Paul, fall short. We see in Romans 7 that his struggle is the same as ours.
Romans 7:15
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
So, are we powerless and destined to a life of slavery to sin? We can try with all our might to be stronger than God’s enemy, but will fail and live a life of guilt and shame unless we stop trying to play God and turn to the only one who is able give us His strength to overcome temptation.
2 Peter 1:3-4
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
His divine power gives us everything we need to overcome the powerful pull of giving into temptation. If we are saturated with God’s powerful word and in step with the Spirit through real and intimate communication, then we will able to resist the devil and be left in God’s presence so that our desire will be for what causes His divine nature to be what we experience.
Spend some time this week looking making these verses a part of you by meditating on God’s word. What is the Holy Spirit saying to you?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
