Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22).
Little Jeff was scrambling to save money to buy his mother a present. It was an uphill battle for Jeff, as he easily gave in to the temptation to buy something from the ice cream parlor, when the brightly colored car drove around his house.
One night after his mother wrapped him in bed, his mother heard Jeff pray, "Oh God, help me stay away when the ice cream vendor comes tomorrow." Even in his youth, he had learned that the best way to overcome temptation is to avoid what appeals to our weaknesses.
All believers are tempted to sin. However, they need not give up. God provides a way to overcome all the temptations of the devil (1 Corinthians 10:13). But we have to do our job. Sometimes that includes avoiding situations in which we will lose spiritually.
The apostle Paul warned Timothy to stay away from the lusts of young people (2 Timothy 2:22). He must keep his distance from temptations that might make him give up because of his strong allure. That is good advice.
If possible, we should never allow ourselves to be in the wrong places, or associate with people who will persuade us to do things we should avoid.
Therefore, make sure you run away from the “ice cream vendor”! —Richard De Haan
WE WILL FALL INTO TRIAL
IF WE DON'T RUN FROM IT
*) Take from Daily Meditation