Welcome to another edition of the LKP Treasure Trove
We are all tempted to do bad things from time to time, but we all have the power, through Yah, to resist any and all temptations that come our way. And while some temptations may not seem that big a deal at first, if it causes you to sin by breaking a commandment, you will be given over to the power of the devil. But James 4:7 says: “Therefore, submit to Elohim. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you.” In today’s story, Clarita will resist temptation by being obedient.
Sweet Temptation
“She’s here! She’s here!” Clarita said with excitement as she looked through the large front window of the daycare center.
Ms. Anderson walked over to her and peered through the window as well. Clarita’s mother had pulled up to the curb in her dark blue sedan. “Yep, she’s here all right,” Ms. Anderson said. “Be sure to grab your things, Clarita.”
“I will,” Clarita singsonged as she dashed off to do as her childcare provider said. She stood in front of the cubby and put on her shoes, and then she grabbed her orange and yellow backpack.
As Clarita trotted toward the front door to meet her mother, Ms. Anderson said, “Are you sure you don’t want a slice of birthday cake to go?”
Clarita looked back with half-sad eyes, and said, “I’m sure, Ms. Anderson.”
Mom stood in the doorway and greeted Ms. Anderson with a smile and a wave of the hand before leading Clarita out to the car.
They drove to the park instead of going straight home since Mom had picked Clarita up a little early. But while pushing her daughter on the swing, Mom saw sadness in Clarita’s face. Mom brought the swing to a stop and stood next to Clarita. “Did something happen today that you’d like to tell me about?” she asked.
Clarita stared at the ground with her shoulders slumped and said, “A girl at daycare had a birthday today. So they bought this big cake for her and handed out slices to all the kids. And even Ms. Anderson and Ms. Thompson had cake. But when they offered me some, I told them what you taught me to say.” Clarita looked up at her mom with tears welling in her eyes. “I didn’t have any, Mom, even though I wanted a piece real bad.”
Mom crouched down and reached out her arms. “Come here, cariña.”
Clarita got up from the swing and walked into her mother’s embrace.
Mom looked down at her daughter as she held her close and said, “I tell you not to eat anything people offer you because you have a special diet. You know that. And even though you were really tempted today, you resisted, and Yah saw you do that. Resisting any kind of temptation pleases him, and it causes you to grow spiritually. You know, Yah rewards that kind of behavior, and so do I. How would you like me to bake you a special cake tonight?”
All Clarita could do was smile.
NOW, WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Are you sometimes tempted to do things you know you shouldn’t? Well, today’s Scripture Treasure verse tells us that “We are tempted by our own desires that drag us off and trap us.” Giving in to our temptations leads to sin, and sin leads to death, according to the very next verse (James 1:15). Once we resist temptation, however, we will begin to receive power from Yah that will allow us to resist more and more, until temptations are not as powerful to us as they once were. So resist temptation and live.
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