Tempted to Cheat
READ: Matthew 18:1-11
Have you ever tossed and turned all night trying to get to sleep? Most nights are easy, but the next day was my final exam in History and I just had to pass the exam to pass the course. That was pressure! My body was so tired, but my mind was racing. Did I study enough? What happens if I don’t pass? So, I was up all night trying not to think about it.
I had studied long and hard, but I just had to pass this final. No question about that. Then a thought came—why not help myself just a little more with a cheat sheet? That was the answer. What could it hurt? Besides, it was only a little sin at most—right? So, I quickly got up and started to make a cheat sheet. I was almost done and then I remembered Matthew 18, where it says that you will be better off in this life with only one eye than having the other eye causes you to sin and be thrown into hell.
There are no small sins. God makes that clear to us. Matthew 18 reminds me that sin is sin, and it is better to lose something or suffer – such as failing my test – than to sin.
I needed to remember that it would be better to have tried my best, event if it resulted in failure, than to pass dishonestly. God does not want me to cheat or even be tempted to cheat.
Thankfully, God promises to be with me and forgive my failures. After praying to God—sleep came easily.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: What does God say when you think of cheating? How could we be tempted to sin and cause us to lose heaven? What will happen to us if we cause someone else to sin?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS: Ask God to allow us to live a Christina life and not be tempted to cheat. Ask God to forgive you if you yielded to temptation. Ask God to be with us during the time of need.