People all over the world face temptation at every waking moment, we are all fighting
together as sinners in a fallen world. Due to this, the Bible warns us to flee from temptation
because it is a sinful trap. The Bible shows that no one is exempt from temptation, “For we do
not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has
been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15, NIV). This
passage proves that Jesus was tempted by Satan. Jesus was asked by Satan to turn stone to bread
and have God’s angels rescue Him from the pinnacle of the temple. Although Jesus could have
had God prove Himself to Satan, He refused and resisted temptation. This shows that we all will
face moments of temptation, but we need to be strong enough to resist. Jesus is able to
empathize with us and offer a form of support because He too experienced temptation. In
relation to this concept, it’s also important to remember that we will not be tempted beyond
anything that God knows we are able to handle.
The textbook describes stimulus control as the occurrence of behavior that results from
the presence or absence of a particular stimulus (Miltenberger, 2015). The presence of sin alters
behavior negatively, whereas its absence has a positive effect on our behavior. We will be
enticed to behave differently if we are around those engaging in sin, as compared to being
surrounded by others that are Christ-like. Peers seeking trouble may be potential antecedents to
things like drinking and smoking. On the contrary, our Christian peers may be potential
antecedents to studying, reading the Bible, and prayer. According to Podlesnik and Kelley
(2014), stimulus control has significant influence, especially in relation to undesirable behaviors.
This study also revealed that stimulus control may be an important influence in preserving
(negative) behaviors, along with making it difficult to quit certain (undesirable) behaviors and
habits (Podlesnik & Kelley, 2014).
The temptation we face is not only directly from Satan, but also from our own desires and
lusts. When tempted, we can choose to be enslaved by our sins and urges, allowing Satan to
control us. On the contrary, we can let the power of God and prayer help us to overcome our
sinful desires. This is why it is important that we remain strong and cling to Christ. If we
exercise control and make sure we are surrounded by good influences, we can act like Christ and
work toward resisting temptation. The Bible wants us to be firm in our faith, resisting temptation
and confiding in Christ.
References
Miltenberger, R. G. (2015). Behavior modification: Principles and procedures (5th ed.).
Stamford, CT: Cengage.
Podlesnik, C. A. and Kelley, M. E. (2014), Resurgence: Response competition, stimulus control,
and reinforce control. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 102, 231-240.
doi:10.1002/jeab.102
