When You're Tempted To Sin

Something came to my attention this morning as I was reading Proverbs 7 in our summer Bible study with the Good Morning Girls. As I was reading the warning about the adulterous woman, I began to think about how the words of verses 24-27 could also be a warning about any sin that would try to tempt Christians who are striving to walk on the path of Wisdom with God.

Let's take a look at the verses I'm referring to. We'll also discover in these verses 3 ways to guard yourself when you're tempted to sin.

24Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.

25Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths.

26Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.

27Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death. 

~Proverbs 7:24-27

Now go back and read these verses again and replace all the feminine pronouns with the word "sin".

24Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.

25Do not let your heart turn to sin's ways or stray into sin's paths.

26Many are the victims sin has brought down; sin's slain are a mighty throng.

27Sin's house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.

~Proverbs 7:24-27

Wow, isn't that amazing?!

Do not let your heart turn to sin's ways!

Do not stray into sin's paths!

Sin has many victims who have been brought down by its deceitfulness!

The number of sin's slain is a mighty throng!

Sin's house is a highway to the grave...leading to the chambers of death!

3 Things To Do When You're Tempted To Sin

Thankfully, we also discover in Proverbs 7:24-27 three things we can do when we're tempted to sin. God has not left us all by ourselves to fend off the devil and his traps of sin. He's given us a way out of any temptation to sin.

1.  Look up to God and remember His Word {verse 24}. This is where committing God's Scripture to your memory will really come into play. We do not wrestle against flesh and blood {Ephesians 6:12} so it's very important to remember that the weapons of our warfare are mighty through God alone {2 Corinthians 10:4}.

2.  Keep your heart focused on God's truth {verse 25}. Satan is the father of lies and the truth is not in him {John 8:44}. When you're tempted to sin there is usually a lie of Satan involved that he has tried to infiltrate your mind with. Call on the truth of God to set you free {John 8:32}! Get into the Word and see what God has to say about the sin that is trying to ensnare your heart and lead to you sin against God.

3.  Think about the future consequences of the sin {verses 26-27}. Again, you'll find the truth in the Word of God about the future consequences of sin. The consequences of sin to consider when you're tempted to sin are: separation from God {Isaiah 59:2}; quenching the Holy Spirit of God {1 Thessalonians 5:19-22}; the hurt of others {Exodus 1:22 and Matthew 2:16-18}; and the understanding that giving in to one sin can lead to giving in to other sins. King David is one example of someone who followed hard after God's heart and gave in to the sin of lust which led him to the sin of ordering the murder of Bathsheba's husband {2 Samuel 11}.


I'm so thankful to God for leaving us His Holy Word as a lamp for our feet and a light for our path {Psalm 119:105}! I'll leave you with this Scripture from the apostle Paul:

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 

And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. 

But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

~1 Corinthians 10:13

Be alert, my friends, to the temptations of sin that Satan will throw into your path. And always be on the look-out for the way of escape when you're tempted to sin by wielding your sword of the Spirit - the Holy Bible, God's Word to us on our journey of life.

Walking in His Grace, 

Laurie

I'm Blogging Through the Bible with Courtney Joseph and other Good Morning Girls! Click on the image below every Friday to read other posts from more sweet friends who are BTTB too!