By HAROLD KELLER

Last Friday, at our weekly 6:15 a.m. men’s Bible discussion group, the moderator, Don Villa, spoke on temptation and how we handle it. It wasn’t one of my favorite subjects, because I’ve had trouble resisting most temptations.

Don referred to these scriptures: I Corinthians 10:13, which states that God will not allow us to be tempted more than the power He gives us to resist, and Matthew 6:13, which reads, “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one…”

I have to admit that it was one of the best meetings I’ve ever attended, but sorry to say, my contribution was minimal, at best.

One young man I met at Fontainbleau Treatment Center about three months ago was the first to speak. He said that staying off of drugs was hard because of so much temptation from some of his old drugging buddies. “Just yesterday,” he said, “I was stopped at a red light, and one of my old drug-using buddies pulled up and was using. He looked at me and signaled if I wanted some. I have to admit it was tempting, especially because I had just gotten paid and had a pocketful of money. It felt good to resist the temptation. In fact, I felt so good that I used the $20 I would have spent on drugs on flowers for my wife.”

Another person, who was attending his first meeting, said that he was a construction engineer and because of that he often had to spend some nights away from home. He shared, “Just last week, we were in a small town famous for its strip joints. Many of the men on the work crew invited me to go out that night, party, and visit a few of the strip joints. I have to admit that I was tempted and undecided, until I called my wife and two children after work. I was then convicted of my commitment to God and to my family. That night, I stayed in my hotel room. The next day, all the men teased me for what they called a wimpy decision. The only thing I know is that it felt good.”

I jumped in and said, “To be a Christian and know it is good, but God get so much glory when we are Christians and show it.”

He liked that! He repeated, “Man, I really feel good resisting that temptation.”

I then added, especially for myself, how stupid most men are. When we give in to temptation, we feel guilty, dirty, and unworthy. But when we resist, we feel like champions, worthy of being called Christians, free, and at peace.

HAROLD KELLER writes this column as part of his affiliation with the Get High on Life religious motivational group. Call him at (985) 652-8477 or write to P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084.