Today I received a phone call from a social worker to inform me that a client tested positive for illegal substances. Though this client recently tested negative in March, it was today that she tested positive for cocaine. So with that said, it's obvious that she relapsed. 'Relapse' is a word that is used in many different ways in a variety of contexts, but it is defined in the dictionary as "to fall or slip back into a former state, etc." And with that being said, the message God gave me to share with you is from 1 Peter 1:14, "Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires."
It's important to note that this isn't my client first time relapsing, but the last time she did, it was because she visited "friends" and places that were associated with using...or shall I say it was the friends and places she visited that tempted her to use again. Did you know that it is good to keep away from people and places that are filled with temptations and opportunities to fall back into our old ways? Don't get me wrong, we all are tempted, and many will be tempted fall back to their old ways because our flesh will tempt us in so many ways. But my question to you is, what will you do when you are tempted to go back to your old ways? Will you yield to temptation or will you endure the temptations and conquer it? While the Bible give us many examples of those who faced temptations, there were some that YIELDED to the temptation and did what was wrong, while others CONQUERED the temptation and did what was right.
For example, the Lord Jesus Christ was tempted by Satan, and beleive it or not, He was tempted in the same manner as we are today. Lust of the flesh (4:1-4). a. Satan commands Jesus to turn the rocks into bread. b. Satan wanted Jesus to fill His stomach with food. c. Remember, Jesus had not eaten in 40 days; and this would fulfill His desire to eat. However, Jesus CONQUERED temptation by quoting the Bible back to the tempter with authority. Jesus had absolute confidence in the Word of God and knew it perfectly.
As you can see, temptation is something we all face as Christians, but I just want to say, do not graitfy the desires of the flesh!!! "Remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it." 1Corinthians 10:13
Further, Ephesians 4:22-24, tells us that we are told to lay aside or put off the conduct (behavior patterns) of the old man, and "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil its lusts." Romans 13:14 ...and remember, those who don't yield to temptation will be rewarded! "Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him." James 1:12
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