The
Craving For Whatever The Body Feels,
The
Craving For Whatever The Eyes See
And
The Arrogant Pride In One's Possessions -
Scripture
1
John 2:16
Everything
that is in the world—the craving for whatever the body feels, the
craving for whatever the eyes see and the arrogant pride in one’s
possessions—is not of the Father but is of the world.
Observation
I
guarantee you that you and I struggle on a daily basis with what is
described in 1 John 2:16!
I
don't care how good of a person that we think you are … you and I
are sinners!
If
we only watch television for a few minutes, turn a few pages in a
magazine, look through a newspaper, look at the ads that pop up while
we are on our computer, we will see and we will feel the pull of what
is described in 1 John 2:16.
These
evil desires—the craze for sex, the ambition to buy everything that
appeals to us, and the pride that comes from wealth and
importance—these are not from God. They are from this evil world
itself.
“Temptation
comes from our own desires, which entice us
and drag us away”
(James 1:14).
You
and I are being “enticed”, we are being tempted, we are
constantly being bombarded from every direction to get us to satisfy
a craving of our flesh. Satan wants us to take the bait! Satan wants
us to give in to those fleshly desires.
1
Peter 4:8-9 says, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the
devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to
devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.”
There
is a “hook” in every craving – nobody ever starts out by
saying, “Oh one day I want to be an alcoholic, one day I want to
destroy my body, my life with drugs, or one day I want to ruin my
marriage and my family with my addiction to pornography, no, it never
starts out that way - does it?
Application
I
will guard my heart. I will stay close to the Lord. I will confess my
sins as I commit them.
How
about you?
Proverbs
4:23
Prayer
Heavenly
Father, as I write this blog I realize that some time during the day
today I will be tempted to satisfy a craving of my flesh. Give me
strength to say no when that temptation comes my way. I know that You
want me to guard my heart. Help me walk close to You today. Give me
the ability to resist temptation when it comes. Help me to see it.
Don't let me be enticed. Don't let me take the bait!
I
pray for someone that is reading this blog today that is struggling
with temptation. Help them to walk in sobriety. Help them to walk in
victory today. It is a daily struggle. It is a day by day, moment by
moment challenge for all of us. Give us victory today!
Daily
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 21,24,27; Psalms 118; 1 John 2
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