DCLM Sincere Milk 28 December 2023 — Yield not to Temptation
DCLM Sincere Milk 28 December 2023 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Yield not to Temptation
Topic: Yield not to Temptation
Text: James 1:12-16
12Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
14But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16Do not err, my beloved brethren.
KEY VERSE: “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12
MESSAGE
Temptation is an enticement to do evil. It is not a sin to be tempted, but yielding to it is sin. Everyone faces temptation at one time or the other. Even Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord was tempted of the devil, but He overcame. He did not fall into temptation because He knew the word to use against the tempter. Most times, a person is tempted through what he or she likes/enjoys.
John’s mom who is a caterer often bakes cakes and cookies. Her children like to eat them a lot. One day, she had a lot of cookies and cakes to bake so much that almost every space in her kitchen was covered with these baked items. Suddenly, a thought came to John’s mind to pick a cookie to eat since there were so many and his mom would not know any was missing. He kept thinking of this suggestion in his mind and after sometime, he dropped the idea. He eventually told his mom he wanted a cookie and his mom told him that she had counted the ones there to meet the demand of the people who requested for them. John realized that if he had yielded to the temptation to take the cookie without informing his mom, he would have sinned against her. Yield not to temptation.
Make Jesus your Friend and He will help you to overcome all the temptations.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me to always overcome temptations as You did.
FURTHER READING: Matthew 4:1-11
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
