July 1, 2019

An Oldie But Goodie from October 15, 2014

This past weekend, Shannon made homemade salsa. I helped. My job was to cut up the jalapenos and then get out of the kitchen.

Once the salsa was done, I took a corn chip and scooped up a big serving and popped it in my mouth. It was the best salsa I had ever tasted. Then all of a sudden, my mouth was on fire. So I drank a big glass of milk, put out the fire and grabbed another corn chip to dip in the salsa.

The second bite of salsa burned all the taste buds off my tongue, melted my tonsils and my lips fell off. It was the best salsa I have ever eaten.

Have you ever done anything you knew was wrong and yet you did it anyways? I’m not talking about something as innocent as taking a second bite of very hot salsa. I am talking about making the conscious choice to do something that you know goes against God’s will.

I know that God does not want me to be selfish, greedy, arrogant or rude. And yet, at times, I tempted to be all of those. Even though I know it is not God’s will, when I give into those sorts of temptations, I sin.

Temptation is something each of us faces on a regular basis. Even Jesus faced genuine temptation. His answer to dealing with temptation was very simple. He would have no part of it. In fact, when someone Jesus loves tries to point him in the wrong direction, he immediately says, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” Matthew 16:23

The lesson we learn from Jesus is that the only way to deal with temptation is to have nothing to do with it. There is no other way because we are not strong enough to continually resist the call of evil. It is too seductive. Simply turn away from temptation and let God to the rest. He will always be faithful.

Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, today I will face a temptation that I am unable to resist on my own. Please give me the will to turn away from whatever tempts me and turn instead to you. I pray my life is pleasing to you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

Just for the record, my beautiful wife makes the greatest salsa in the world. It just has a little kick to it.

I pray you resist today’s temptations.

Tom Robbins