July 10, 2023

Dear Friend,

Have you ever felt pressured into making a decision? It could be that you were being tempted to do the wrong thing. I can recall some time ago when I was looking at something that I was going to buy and the sales person told me I needed to get it right away because it was on sale that day and the price was going to go back up again. Of course, I was having a hard time making the price for the day it was on sale and now they're telling me it's going to go back up! I felt pressured into deciding immediately.

Now, that is a very simple illustration of what temptation feels like. Sometimes we feel pressured to make much more important decisions than whether to buy an item we like or need. When you are feeling pressured into deciding, remember that Jesus was tempted so severely that he sweated blood. He was tempted at all points, the Bible says, but he kept resisting. Jesus prayed saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly and his sweat was like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Luke 22:44

Jesus resisted the temptation to walk away from the suffering He was about to endure. Jesus was tempted, but He never yielded—and he resisted sin for us. Just think about how the whole thing would be totally different today had He not resisted.

How do you resist sin and temptation?  Follow Jesus’ example. Pray earnestly and say out loud, “Lord God, not my will but your will be done.”

Victory is ours! Hallelujah!

Pastor Jo