Daily Devotional – 5/24/12 “Where is you flame resistant barrier?”

When the enemy comes, and he will come, he brings with him a fire that can singe the hairs on the back of your neck. This fire is hot enough to turn your cheeks red just by looking at it and the closer he gets to us, the hotter the fire gets. See, this fire is temptation and the enemy surrounds us with it daily to throw us off the path that God has placed us on but 1 Peter 4:12 says, “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.” I know you’re asking why shouldn’t I be surprised but it is because you should already know the devil and the schemes he uses to tempt us away from God’s side and into his. You know how you leave the house after having an argument with your spouse and as soon as you get to work, here comes your coworker in that nice suit or short skirt, smelling all good saying I just stopped by to speak. Or when you’re not getting satisfied, sexually, at home the right way (we are all grown, right?) and just when you’re at your breaking point, you get an email from someone you knew a long time ago. Yea, I know; you’re looking but not touching but if you move close enough to the fire without the right flame resistant barrier, you will get burned. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” Now, please know that although God provides the way out from the fire (temptation), you have to be looking to see it and if you’re smiling in the face of the temptation, then you will miss the open door God placed as your way out.

Yea, you make think that you’ll never do this or do that but the bible says in Mark 14:38, “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” It may only be texting now but eventually you’ll give in to the pressures of the temptation and the only way to be sure you won’t is to take the way out that God is giving. Just because your friend has always been your friend, it doesn’t mean he or she hasn’t thought about what it would be like to get with you, so instead of calling them when you have an argument with your significant other, stay home and work it out. When folks are angry or upset, they tend to do things they wouldn’t normally do or say things they wouldn’t normally say; which is why if you argue, take a time out and regroup and then talk it out. When you leave a situation in a fit of rage, you may do something you can’t take back. You know how you get in the car, mad and the first thing that pops in your head is the voice of that “friend” that says; call me if you ever need to talk. Now, you’re headed to their place to talk and before you know it, they are saying all the things you want to hear and now you’ve slipped on top of each other. Yea, right! You put yourself in that position. Don’t be acting like God is testing you, like he did Job because the bible says in James 1:13, “And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.” Why, because temptations are evil and from evil and they don’t become a reality until we allow them too. James 1:14-16 says, “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.” Yea, he said call him but you didn’t have too. She sent you that picture but she couldn’t have if she didn’t have your number. You made a mistake and slept with him/her because you were drinking but had you not been in a position, alone with them, you wouldn’t have gotten drunk and; well you know! Simply put, don’t allow yourself to get close enough to the fire to get burned.

Will you be tempted by things that can cause you to sin, yes, because that’s the way the devil works. Haven’t you realized that when you start your diet, all the cravings for the things you no longer want are stronger or when you’re trying to quit or overcome an addiction, you want it more than ever before? This is temptation. The day you decide to quick smoking, every commercial on TV is about cigarettes. The day you decide you no longer want to commit adultery is the day they call 50 times, when you hadn’t heard from them in weeks. Turn off the TV, change your phone number, block their email address and put on your flame resistant barrier. See, if the devil can tempt you and you fall for it, he places a checkmark in his win column for the day. This is why you have to have your flame resistant barrier that keeps you from getting too close to the fire. Yea, this flame resistant barrier will allow you to see the fire, but it won’t burn you. This flame resistant barrier keeps your clothes and hair from smelling like smoke, it keeps your feet from getting from getting burned from standing on hot coals and it keeps your lungs and eyes working even when the room is filling with smoke. This is why Ephesians 6:11 says, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” You will face temptations because the devil does all he can to get those that are on God’s side but you can overcome them. If you’ve made a mistake in the past, leave it there and don’t go back to get it. If there is a number in your phone that may cause you to slip, delete it. If there is a friend on Facebook that keeps giving you hints, block them. You can help yourself from getting burned by the fire if you stop wearing gasoline pants into the fire. Stop allowing yourself to be in a position to make a temptation a reality. If someone gives you their number and you know they have a hidden agenda, trash it. If someone invites you somewhere and you know they have their own reasons why, don’t go. Temptations are of the devil but he is only filling the secret desires we have. If your home is in disarray, fix it or at least try too before giving up. If your coworker is over stepping their boundaries, draw the lines with darker ink and make it plain. God gives us what we need to endure and resist temptations but you won’t see it if you aren’t looking. Don’t allow Thursday’s Temptation to send you into Friday’s Fire but seek God and then put on your flame resistant barrier and walk on!