Turn From Temptation

493 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 11:2,3 Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. 3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" ( 2 Sam 11:2,3) The lingering glance. The lust of the eyes. Instead of turning his eyes away and removing himself from the temptation, David allows himself to take in the beauty of Bathsheba and as he does his imagination takes over. He now has a desire to connect with this woman and so he inquires as to who she is. This is a common temptation to man and we read about it in 1Jo 2:15-17, “ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” Here the Holy Spirit speaking through John tells us “Do not!” and He gives us some helpful advice to enable us to turn from the temptation. He says, “Remember these things you are lusting after, this beauty of Bathsheba, is TEMPORARY! It's a fly speck on the timeline of eternity. Why let sexual sin endanger your standing in eternity? Oh the sin itself doesn't damn you, there is no sin that Jesus didn't pay for on the cross, but it, and all habitual sinning weakens your faith, saps your resolve to remain with Jesus. Listen to Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. You see it's about enduring. Fighting to the end. Never stop calling sin, sin, and never stop dealing with it in the way Scripture prescribes. It's never too late to get back on the right path! Turn from sin at every possible moment, but if you fail, confess it, receive forgiveness and try again!