Recognizing Temptation… Following Jesus Together

For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

— 1 John 2:16-17 NIV

I can recognize all three of these temptations in my own life one time or another.

• The lust of the flesh, chasing comfort or gratification instead of choosing the Jesus Way.

• The lust of the eyes, comparing my life to someone else's and coming up dissatisfied.

• The pride of life, quietly taking credit for what God alone has done. 

None of these arrived as obvious temptations — they came disguised as reasonable desires, and that's exactly what made them dangerous.

 What steadies me is John's  words that giving into temptation does not last. But doing the will of God does. That reframes the choice entirely.

What if...One of these temptations is quietly pulling at us right now. Will we choose God’s way or our way?

Prayer Father, You know where our vulnerabilities lie today. Renew our desires until they match Yours.

Let's do this together.