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David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. And Amnon, her half brother, fell desperately in love with her. —2 Samuel 13:1
Satan is a master at dangling lustful sin in front of us and making it look incredibly enticing. Then, after we reach out and take it, the reality of that sin is a miserable disappointment. How quickly our eyes despise what we have attained through lust! Satan tempts us with a picture of sin that looks like an oasis in the desert. He makes it seem as though a lust fulfilled will bring the ultimate happiness. Amnon fantasized for a long time about having relations with Tamar. However, the moment he acted upon his fantasy, the imagined sweet taste of it turned to bitterness. Amnon eventually despised what he had conquered (2 Samuel 13:15). In any temptation, ask God to show you the reality of how disappointing the sin will be. Any move you make because of lust will turn to mock you and will lead you toward even more sin. Ask for the help of the Holy Spirit to break through any fantasy in your mind and to see its backside: anger, disrespect, and even death. “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death” (Proverbs 14:12). Don’t fall for Satan’s bait!
Suggested Reading:
2 Samuel 13:1-39
John 17:1-26
Psalm 119:81-96
Proverbs 16:6-7