7 Things to Remember When Tempted to Sin

We all struggle with sin, but we must remember that sin makes us foolish. It is never reasonable, and when we are in the throes of temptation, we often become ignorant. It is as if sin puts blinders on our eyes, causing us to forget what is important to us. These blinders are why, when tempted to sin, it is crucial to pause and reflect on the following seven things.

1. This is not the person you want to be.

If you have been born again, you aspire to be godly. Reflect on some of the most inspirational Christian people you admire. If they have died, consider the legacy they have left behind. If they are still with us, what about them makes you look up to them? That is the kind of life you want to lead, and then consider that giving in to sin would put it all at risk for a fleeting pleasure.

2. You will regret it as soon as you are done.

There may be some real pleasure in giving in, but it will not last. If you are a child of God, regret will set in quickly, and it will far outweigh the temporary enjoyment it gave you. There is nothing in what your sinful desires are calling you to that is worth it, and those sinful desires are warring against your soul.

3. You desire intimacy with Christ.

If the first two points are insufficient, remember that sin hinders union with Jesus. You desire to walk in step with the Spirit, but this sin is the exact opposite. It is a quenching of the Spirit instead of unity with him. It will work to drive a wedge between you and your precious Lord.

4. You will be shaping your character.

Whatever decision you make as this sin presents itself to you will shape your character in ways that will have widespread ramifications throughout your life. It may seem like a small matter, but every decision and action you make flows from your character, and this decision will either improve or hinder it.

5. Your loved ones need you to make the right decision.

You have countless people counting on you, especially your family and friends. Even if they are not Christians themselves, they need you to be godly. It is the most important thing you can do for them.

6. You have the fruit of the Spirit

Giving into sin is suppressing the fruit of the Spirit in your life. The most applicable is self-control, and when we suppress that one, we also diminish the others, including love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and faithfulness. Lean on the Spirit and his fruit in your life to help you say “no.”

7. You will soon be on your deathbed.

It will not be long before you are breathing your last. At that moment, you do not want to think, “I really wish I had put that sin behind me, but I never did, and now I no longer have the opportunity to do so.” Your deathbed experience will either be spiritually tumultuous or peaceful, depending on how you dealt with sin in your life. All sinful pleasure will be seen as foolish at that moment, and how will you have lived your life? The only way we can be people who die well is by living for Christ now.

As John Owen says, temptation is like a knife. How you respond to it will cause it to do one of two things: if you reject the temptation, it will cut your meat, and you will be fed by the experience. If you give in, it will cut your throat, and you will begin to lose your lifeblood.

We all sin as believers; this is why we trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus. We are made right with God because of His righteousness, not our own, but we should desire to grow in holiness. Even if we are eternally secure in Christ, sin can still wreak havoc in our lives here and now.

Jesus has begun a work in you, and He is faithful and just to complete that work. Perhaps he will use this short devotion to remind you that the next time you are about to give in to that same old besetting sin, to take time to remember these seven things. He has called you to something far greater than any temporary satisfaction this sin might promise.

– D. Eaton