Sampling Temptations

“Avoid every appearance of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22 TPT)

At the food court at our local mall, there are a few vendors who hand out samples. As people walk by, one of their employees will offer little pieces of meat on a toothpick. They hope that the sample will tempt you to go and order more food at their kiosk.

Temptations often arrive in front of us in sample sizes. Think about your weaknesses. Are you not more likely to indulge in them if they are presented as no big deal? Unfortunately, a bite-sized sample does not satisfy our appetite. Soon we are going back for a bigger portion.

We each have our own pet vices. Maybe it’s alcohol, cigarettes, vapes, recreational drugs, gambling, gaming, eating unhealthy foods, flirting, social media, lying, gossipping, complaining, bragging, etc. This is how our minds justify our behavior: A little of this won’t hurt anyone. Everything is okay in moderation. I can stop anytime. Compared to what others are doing, this is no big deal. I deserve some happiness.

I refused to bend my morals when temptation was before me.” (Psalm 119:101 TPT)

When temptations are presented in front of us, we cannot take the bait. It is best to give a wide berth to anything that even appears harmful. Bending our morals even a tiny bit can lead us down a slippery slope. Once we sample sin, we tend to find ways to justify our behavior so that we can go back for more. Eventually, we become desensitized. What once seemed wrong becomes our new normal. Thus, it is imperative that we remain aware of our weaknesses and avoid situations where we may fall into temptation.

Lord, help us to avoid every appearance of evil. Grant us the strength to stick to our convictions.