Purity

In case you don't know the story of David and Bathsheba, it is found in 2 Samuel.
“In the spring, when kings go out to war, David sent Joab, his officers, and all the Israelites out to destroy the Ammonites. Joab’s army surrounded their capital city, Rabbah. David stayed in Jerusalem."

David was out of place. He put himself "out of place. Mark used to be a vice-principal when we lived in Vicksburg, MS. When students came to his office for a discipline issue, he always discovered that they were "out of place." When we stay where we need to be, we will be less likely to stray and do the wrong things.

"One evening he got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of his house. From there he saw a woman bathing. She was very beautiful,”
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭11:1-2‬ ‭ERV‬‬

I would guess that David knew ahead of time that when he stood on the roof of his house he would see women bathing. This was not the first time. He put himself into a situation where he would be tempted. We often put ourselves into a situation where we already know that we will be tempted. It was only a matter of time before he would give in to the temptation.

Look what God said to David....

"When you took Uriah’s wife, you showed that you did not respect me."

"But you did things that made the Lord ’S enemies lose their respect.”
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭12:10, 14‬ ‭ERV‬‬

“I let you take his family and his wives, and I made you king of Israel and Judah. As if that had not been enough, I would have given you more and more. So why did you ignore my command? Why did you do what I say is wrong? You let the Ammonites kill Uriah the Hittite, and you took his wife. It is as if you yourself killed Uriah in war.”
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭12:8-9‬ ‭ERV‬‬

When we ignore God's command to have purity, we disrespect Him and we cause the world to disrespect Him. He said to David, "I gave you everything but it wasn't enough!" God has given us literally everything we need but we decide, just like Eve, that God did not let us eat out of the one tree and that He is not taking care of us. We decide that God is holding out on us and we take matters into our own hands.

If you are struggling with sexual temptations and giving in to them, get help. Do you need an accountability partner? Do you need to join a group.  You won't be the first one to join. You won't be the last one to join.

This is definitely an area where you cannot "conform to the world." The world says that it is okay to have sex outside of marriage. God says it's not. If pornography is the issue, quit "climbing on the roof of your house."

Wait for the best

Remember, most temptations are a shortcut that Satan wants you to take. ~Johnny Hunt

I read this quote this morning. Every time we make a lessor choice, it is because we take the easy way out. I often do that with food. I come home from work and I am starving, absolutely starving. But instead of waiting for a healthy dinner, I eat one snack and then another snack and then one more snack. By the time dinner rolls around, the healthy choice does not even look so good because I am filled with the lessor choices.

Think about areas of your life when you took the "shortcut." You did not want to wait for the best. And to top it all off, Satan condemns you and tells you how pitiful you are after you make that choice! Jesus said that "he did not come to condemn but to give us an abundant life." When you are condemned, that is not the voice of the Heavenly Father. Even though you made the wrong choice, he will not condemn but the Holy Spirit will gently convict you that you made the wrong choice. That is the voice of the Father.

Be intentional today to take the path, even though painful, to abundant life. If it's a shortcut, steer clear.

Do Not Put God to the Test

"He said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, jump off, because the Scriptures say, ‘God will command his angels to help you, and their hands will catch you, so that you will not hit your foot on a rock.’” Psalm 91:11-12 Jesus answered, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’””
Matthew 4:6-7 ERV

The second temptation of Jesus is a familiar one that we all face. Satan spoke the truth about God's promise to rescue. God has the power, the desire and the reason to save Jesus from harm. When  God rescues us from a trial he receives glory. Win-win situation. So why is this the temptation that Satan chose? 

When we are facing a trail, we all are tempted to "put God to the test." We put him on trial. We place our self imposed demands on God. We say, "God, because you CAN save me, you MUST save me." We are misquoting truth about a promise that we think we read somewhere in the Bible. 

Notice the way Satan made this a test for Jesus. "Jump off and let God save you." Jesus was totally submitted to his Father. He defined the word submission! He said things like,

"You will know that whatever I do is not by my own authority. You will know that I say only what the Father has taught me.”
John 8:28 ERV

Wow! Even the Son of God did not tell his Father how to save him. On the night before his greatest trial, he says,

“He fell to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, don’t make me drink from this cup. But do what you want, not what I want.””
Matthew 26:39

But Satan cleverly suggested that Jesus tell God what to do. Gracious, how many times do we fall guilty of that? We suggest ways to rescue us and the timetable that he should take to save us. We put God to the test. Worse yet, when he fails to do OUR will, we get mad and bitter and decide that he wasn't all that powerful. 

Next time when things don't go as you planned and life throws you a curveball, use the Word of God and speak the same truth that Jesus spoke. Declare that you will not put "God to the test." He is not the one being tested. You are.