From the Pee Dee Baptist Association-Featured this week is Rev. Rob Pierce, pastor of Latta Baptist Church, Latta.

If you are a Christian, one of the issues that you face daily is called temptation. Have you ever been tempted? Well, put your fingers on your wrist. If you have a pulse, you’ve been tempted, and you are still being tempted.
Temptation comes in many forms, and we are all tempted by different things. Maybe we are tempted to watch a show or movie that we shouldn’t watch due to the fact that the content does nothing to enhance our lives or draw us closer to God.
Some are tempted to do something they know they should not do. Temptation is usually focused towards an area of our life where we are weak, and its purpose is to cause us to sin, which affects our fellowship with God and with other people.
The weakness in my life is the Red Light District. You read it correctly, the Red Light District. I have given in to temptation in the Red Light District in San Francisco, California; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Columbia, South Carolina; Florence, South Carolina; and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. My problem is that when that Red Light is on, I have to have some Krispy Kreme doughnuts! (What did you think I meant by Red Light District?!)
James tells us in the James 1:14 that a key to understanding temptation is found in our own evil desires. He goes on to say that those desires lead to sin and that leads to death. The idea that a little sin is okay is not true. Sin is in the heart and mind of every person, but it can be and must be avoided at all costs because it leads to death.
Since sin begins with temptation, we must be ready to deal with temptation before it occurs. Know what God’s Word has to say about your behavior. Begin each day with God and His Word so that you may be equipped to deal with every temptation that comes your way. Jesus himself was tempted and did not sin because He was equipped with the Word of God to fend off Satan’s attacks.
God promises you a way out of temptation if your life is completely surrendered to Him. My prayer is that you are surrendered to God by giving your heart to His Son, Jesus Christ. John 3:16 says that God loved you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus to die for you; and that if you believe in Him, you will not perish but have eternal life.
God sent His Son to save you and give you a life worth living.
Live for Him, ready to face the world and every temptation that you will face so that you will make the right choice, every time.