Category Archives: Temptation

The Danger of Leaving God’s Pasture

Posted on March 4, 2020 by russellmckinney

An old shepherd once attended a church service and was called upon to pray. The prayer he offered spoke of three things: his Christianity, his occupation of shepherd, and his experience with stepping outside God’s will. He prayed, “Lord, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Change, Choices, Contentment, Decisions, Desires, God's Will, Temptation | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

How to Hurt Your Best Friend

Posted on December 28, 2019 by russellmckinney

Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Disobedience, Holiness, Jealousy, Personal Holiness, Rebellion, Sanctification, Separation, Sin, Temptation, The Holy Spirit | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

How Satan Leads Us to Our Own Destruction

Posted on December 7, 2019 by russellmckinney

Noted British pastor Charles Spurgeon once told the story of a preacher who was taking a leisurely stroll through a small village. As the preacher walked along, he saw a farmer leading a herd of pigs down the road. Since … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Choices, Decisions, Discernment, God's Will, Satan, Sin, Temptation, The Devil | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Your Mind Is Like a Hotel

Posted on September 16, 2019 by russellmckinney

One writer has compared our minds to a hotel. The hotel manager cannot keep a problem person from entering the lobby, but he can keep that person from getting a room and staying there. Similarly, you cannot cannot keep a … Continue reading →

Posted in Discernment, Discipleship, Entertainment, Music, Personal Holiness, Sanctification, Separation, Temptation | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

When False Teeth Become a Problem

Posted on July 27, 2019 by russellmckinney

but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16, N.K.J.V.) In his booklet How to Kill a Church Without Really … Continue reading →

Posted in Adultery, Alcohol, Backsliding, Character, Church, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dress and Appearance, Drugs, God's Holiness, God's Work, Holiness, Homosexuality, Influence, Lying, Making Restitution, Money, Personal Holiness, Repentance, Righteousness, Salvation, Sanctification, Sex, Sin, Temptation, The Tongue | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Christians Bringing a Touch of Christ’s Kingdom to Earth

Posted on June 13, 2019 by russellmckinney

Series: “Christ’s Kingdom” (post #5) Jesus spent His three-and-a-half-year earthly ministry bringing a touch of His heavenly kingdom to the earth. Then, after being crucified, He resurrected and ascended back to heaven. This left a gaping hole in regards to … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Character, Discernment, Discipleship, Disobedience, Doing Good, Extending Forgiveness, Faithfulness, Forgiveness, Giving, God's Provision, God's Will, God's Word, God's Work, Good Works, Influence, Lust, Marriage, Ministry, Needs, Obedience, Persecution, Personal Holiness, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Priorities, Prosperity, Reconciliation, Revenge, Reward, Righteousness, Salvation, Sanctification, Scripture, Series: "Christ's Kingdom", Service, Temptation, The Bible, The Heart, The Old Testament Law, The Sermon On The Mount, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Trouble Travels

Posted on May 20, 2019 by russellmckinney

Here’s a true story. A retired couple found themselves greatly worried by the threat of nuclear war. So, they decided that their best course of action was to settle down in the place that was the least likely in all … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Change, Choices, Complaining, Contentment, Desires, Fear, God's Will, Human Life, Inner Peace, Peace, Problems, Temptation, Trials, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Your Druthers

Posted on May 15, 2019 by russellmckinney

Mark Twain featured the characters of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer in multiple books. One of them is Tom Sawyer, Detective. As part of that book’s conversations between Huck and Tom, Huck says, “Any way you druther have it, that is … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Christ's Death, Commitment, Crucifixion, Decisions, Desires, Discipleship, Dying To Self, God's Omniscience, God's Will, Individuality, Obedience, Prayer, Sacrifice, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Submission, Talents, Temptation, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Thy Rod & Thy Staff They Comfort Me

Posted on April 10, 2019 by russellmckinney

The 23rd Psalm is all about how the Lord leads His people. My favorite part of the Psalm is verse 2: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. (K.J.V.) Green pastures … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Backsliding, Comfort, Depression, Disappointment, Discipleship, Disobedience, Encouragement, Fear, God's Omniscience, God's Provision, Obedience, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Submission, Suffering, Temptation, The Devil, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Lord God of Truth

Posted on March 7, 2019 by russellmckinney

Series: “The Names of God” (post #5) Here’s a trivia question for you. In our English translations of the Bible, what were the last words that Jesus spoke while hanging on the cross? Were they? A. “Father, into Your hands … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Christ's Death, Discernment, Doubt, God's Name, God's Will, God's Word, Lying, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Satan, Scripture, Series: "The Names of God", Temptation, The Bible, The Devil, The Old Testament Law, Truth | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment