MOTHER placed a dish of lovely fruit on the table. There were luscious grapes, golden ripe peaches, beautiful yellow pears, plums and other tempting fruits.
“Janet,” said Mother, “don’t touch anything until supper time.” Then she left the room.
When Mother returned a little later, she found Janet standing near the table and looking very ill at ease.
“Janet,” she said accusingly, “have you been trying to take the fruit?”
“No, Mother,” answered her little girl truthfully. “I have been trying NOT to take it.”
How many of us have been like little Janet. Trying not to do things can be a real battle at times, especially if they are things we know God does not want us to do. The one in Romans 7 knew what this trial was for he said, “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” v. 17.
You see, God knew we were sinners and if left to ourselves we could not keep from sinning. So in love to us He sent His beloved Son into this world to save us from sin’s guilt and power. When we put our trust in the Lord Jesus and receive Him into our hearts, He gives us power to resist temptation. We are “more than conquerors through Him that loved us” (Rom. 8:3737Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (Romans 8:37)), for “He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Heb. 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25).
ML-09/24/1972