Blessed is the man that resisteth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (JST James 1:12)
This verse caught my eye this week. I especially like the correction Joseph Smith was inspired to make--resisting is so much more active and effective than just enduring. There are many trials we can get through by patiently enduring. Temptation, however, doesn't usually just go away. We have to get away from it, like Joseph, who "fled" from Potiphar's wife, "and got him out."(Genesis 39:12)
There is always a way out. Paul promised this in 1 Corinthians 10:13:
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Of course, the way out does little good if we don't use it. We have to make the effort to resist temptation, to leave it behind and fill our lives with something better. If we use our agency correctly, the Lord will strengthen us and reward us. And the tempter will lose power over us. As James wrote in chapter four,
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
Let's send him running!
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