Ever been in a situation where you knew the right thing to do, but the wrong thing was tempting? Each day we’ll face temptation to do things that aren’t God’s best for us. That temptation can come from our own desires, peer pressure, or the expectations society has of us. In these situations, we should turn to God for help. The Bible tells us that ‘no temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it’ (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV). When someone seeks to compromise our character, God promises to give us a way out so we don’t have to give in to temptation. We also need to make sure we’re surrounding ourselves with friends who want to encourage us to do the right things, rather than pressuring us to do what everyone else is doing. Sometimes, choosing to do the right thing can make us unpopular. We might lose friends. But it’s better to be alone and walk with God than to give in to temptation, go against His Word, and compromise our character. When we stand tall and do the right thing, we bring honour and glory to God. To live God’s way rather than the world’s way takes courage. It’s not easy. The easy route is just fitting in with everyone else. But God will give us the courage to do the right thing. Jude writes, ‘To him who is able to keep you from stumbling.’ God’s able to keep us from stumbling, so are we willing to be courageous and do the right thing?

What Now?

Next time you feel under pressure to do the wrong thing, remove yourself from the situation and pray for the courage to do the right thing.