When to Trust My Feelings:
Temptation – Part 2

Scripture Reading:  Matthew 4:1-11

Key Verse: Matthew 4:4

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”

Continuing from yesterday, we see that Jesus had feelings and desires to do wrong.  Does that shock you?  It should not.  If Jesus was tempted, then the very nature of temptation demands our feelings get involved.  If, for example, you try to tempt me to drink a beer, your effort fails before it ever gets started.  I can’t stand the smell of beer, much less its taste.  I would have no feelings—no desires—to take a drink.  It would be farfetched for me to brag: “I resisted temptation.”  I didn’t resist temptation, I never felt tempted in the first place!

            If Jesus was tempted, Jesus felt desire—had feelings of want and desire to do wrong.  We know He always chose not to cross any lines and was without sin (Hebrews 4:15).  Having the feelings or desires for wrong does not equal committing a sin.  Whenever we have these feelings or desires, we must quickly determine their origin and control them if they are from the devil.

            Can we trust our feelings?  The simple answer is: not automatically!  We must always question them and make them subservient to our will.  People who are mastered by their feelings are slaves to sin and the devil.  God’s Spirit can live within us to empower us to make our feelings and desires slaves of our God-controlled will.  Ask God to give you His Spirit of self-control.

Father, I want to live worthy of you today.  Please give me your Spirit of self-control, making my feelings slaves to my will.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.