This devotion is set to be published in the March-April 2010 issue of THE UPPER ROOM.

FORBIDDEN FRUIT

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. --Genesis 3:16 (NIV)

The fruit was inviting. It looked so good and Eve wanted it. What was the harm? She had always been tempted, but when the serpent told her God was keeping it from her to hide its powers, she couldn’t resist any longer. She had to have it. And when she ate it, she knew her husband Adam had to have it, too. It was one simple moment of weakness, one small mistake, but it forever altered their lives.

How many times are we tempted by forbidden fruit? From members of the opposite sex to possessions, temptations are all around us daily. Many find them hard to resist, even those of strong faith who never thought it could happen to them. It looks so good. What could be the harm? And then their world falls apart.

What should we do when we are tempted? 1st Corinthians 10:13 tells us no temptation will come before us which is beyond our strength to resist. Mark 14:38 tells us that we should watch and pray so that we are not overcome by temptation. Always being on our guard and knowing our own weakness are the greatest defenses we can have. Those and constant prayer. God can shield us when we cannot stand on our own. All we have to do is ask, and in our weakness, He will be our strength.

PRAYER: Father God, protect me from my own sinful desires and clothe me in your righteousness that in my weakness, I might be strong in you. Amen.