Mark Twain said, “There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable.” Twain’s words are a sentiment we can all relate to because we all deal with temptation. Temptation comes in a variety of forms, but the outcome is always the same. The enemy of our souls has a sinister ability to dangle the bait and hide the hook. Consequences always follow the brief satisfaction we might experience over succumbing to temptation, and sometimes they are severe. Wise people know that dealing with temptation is a lifelong issue and take measures to guard against it. If we think we are immune to temptation, we are especially vulnerable.
In Proverbs 7, Solomon was writing to his son and advising him on how to avoid the trap of adultery, but the counsel Solomon provides is an effective way of dealing with all types of temptation. Solomon wrote:
My son, keep my words
and treasure up my commandments with you;
keep my commandments and live;
keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;
bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart (Prov. 7:1-3).
Notice how Solomon instructed his readers to “treasure up commands within you” (v.1). One of the most effective ways to deal with temptation is Scripture memorization. When Satan tempted Jesus, the Lord retaliated by quoting from the book of Deuteronomy (Matt. 4). Jesus responded to the enemy three different times by saying, “It is written.” Jesus resisted Satan by quoting Scripture—and so can we. But, if we want to effectively manage times of temptation, we must know the Scriptures and be able to call it to memory in times of testing.
Most of us know our areas of weakness and where we have a habit of stumbling, so it’s wise to identify specific passages in Scripture that address our vulnerabilities and memorize those verses. For instance, if you struggle with chronic fear, Isaiah 41:10 is a Scripture you’ll want to commit to memory. If you are prone to gossip, Ephesians 4:29 should be on your list to memorize. It’s important to decide in advance how you will respond to temptation because temptation often catches us off guard. If we’ve determined a response ahead of time, we’ll have a far better chance of overcoming temptation when the moment of temptation arrives.
As with all things, Jesus is our example when it comes to dealing with temptation. Not only did Christ know and quote the Scriptures, but He obeyed the Word of God in times of temptation. Solomon wrote, “Keep my commands and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye” (Prov. 7:2). Knowing the Word of God isn’t enough—to avoid falling into the trap of temptation— we must also obey it. I’ll leave you with a couple of things to think about.
Thoughts to ponder:
- In what areas are you prone to temptation? Are you mindful of specific Bible addresses that address your vulnerabilities?
- What steps can you take to set aside 10-15 minutes a day to memorize applicable passages of Scripture?
