From seatbelts to home surveillance systems to all types of insurance, we place a high priority on our security and safety. We work hard so we can have enough money in the bank for retirement. We want to be ready for any eventuality in any situation.

Good stewardship is one thing, but obsessive worrying about our future is another. Jesus did not call His disciples to a life of guaranteed security. Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, and John had everything to lose—not only their livelihoods as fishermen but also their freedom and perhaps even their lives if Rome saw the Messiah as a political threat. They also risked being cast out of the Jewish community if the Sanhedrin labeled Jesus as a false teacher. Nonetheless, “they left everything and followed him” (v. 11). This is the essence of discipleship (Luke 9:57–62).

As with Esther, the temptation was to take the safe route. The miraculous catch of fish helped to encourage their faith and to confirm Jesus’ identity as Messiah. “From now on,” He told them, “you will fish for people” (v. 10). This humorous image brings bait and lures to our modern minds, but Jesus was referring to fishing with nets. This takes persistence, hard work, and time, with no guaranteed results, as Simon admitted to Jesus (v. 5). So the miracle also showed the new disciples that the ministry of bringing people into God’s kingdom must ultimately be God’s work done with God’s power.

The disciples chose to leave behind what, in God’s view, was a lesser security—their jobs and personal safety—for a greater one—a place in His kingdom. This is why Paul, too, counted everything else as “loss” or “garbage” compared to knowing Christ (Phil. 3:7–9).

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The Jewish holiday of Purim, commemorating the events recorded in the Book of Esther, is celebrated to this day. Presents are given. Food and donations for the poor are collected. Plays are performed. Children are given rattles so that when the story is read aloud, the name of evil Haman (v. 7) can be drowned out with noise.

In today’s reading, Esther wondered whether going to the king was a risk that would get her killed for nothing (v. 11). The temptation was to do nothing, keep her head down, deny her identity, and stay safe. Mordecai, however, helped her realize that this wrong choice would be the most dangerous of all. God would rescue His people in any case, but her silence would bring His judgment on her and her family (vv. 12–14). She had been placed where she was by God “for such a time as this.”

While she may have been tempted to keep quiet, Esther chose faith over fear. Courageously, she risked death to approach the king on behalf of her people. Prayer and fasting (see Matt. 6:16–18) were an important part of her spiritual preparation to do so, in which she and her attendants were joined by Mordecai and all the Jews in Susa (vv. 15–16). “If I perish, I perish” did not signify stoicism or resignation, but calm trust in God’s love and sovereignty. She knew that she and her people were safe in His hands. This didn’t guarantee a particular outcome. Like Daniel’s friends, she made the righteous choice no matter the result (see Dan. 3:17–18).

Notice in Esther’s story how resisting temptation called for a nexus of spiritual virtues, including faith, courage, and prayer. Giving in, by contrast, would have empowered vices such as fear and self-centeredness. Winning against temptation is never about just one thing.

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Doctor Faustus, in Christopher Marlowe’s Renaissance drama, wanted power at any cost. After considering his options, he decided that magic could make him a “mighty god.” To make sure his magic would be the strongest, he made a deal with the devil—his soul in exchange for the power he craved. As one might expect, that bargain was a bad one with hellish consequences.

God had put Daniel in a position of power near the top of the Babylonian Empire. That fact, plus his identity as a Jewish exile, plus his incorruptible integrity (v. 4), made him some enemies—122 jealous imperial officials, to be exact. Looking to take him down, they found his only “weakness” to be his faith in his God (v. 5). So they plotted to pass a temporary law against praying to any god other than King Darius (v. 6).

The temptation for Daniel was to compromise. He was in the habit of praying three times daily at open windows facing Jerusalem (v. 10). There was no biblical command to do so. Why not suspend the practice temporarily? Or pray in a more secret place? Why hand evil a victory? But Daniel chose to act on faith, not fear. Godly wisdom makes choices that the world doesn’t always understand.

The results: God protected Daniel from the lions (vv. 21–23). The conspirators paid with their lives (v. 24). God’s name—to which Daniel had already been bearing clear witness (vv. 11, 16)—was glorified even more than it had been before (vv. 26–27).

What was Daniel’s strategy against temptation? He unreservedly “trusted in his God” (v. 23). Drawing near to the Lord is a sure defense against temptations to wrongdoing. The apparent appeal of sin vanishes, its lies are unmasked, and the power of God strengthens us to choose rightly.

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Pastor and author John Piper called Ruth “God’s ideal woman” in A Sweet and Bitter Providence. Why? “Faith in God that sees beyond present bitter setbacks. Freedom from the securities and comforts of the world. Courage to venture into the unknown and the strange. Radical commitment in the relationships appointed by God. This is the woman of Proverbs 31:25 who looks into the future with confidence in God and laughs at the coming troubles... It is a beautiful thing to watch a woman like this serve Christ with courage.”

Following Ruth’s example is another way to fight and win against temptation. She could have stayed in her comfort zone and done the culturally expected thing, as Naomi advised her to do (vv. 8–9). But she must have seen something of the one true God in the lives of her in-laws. She’d become His follower. There was no going back (see also Luke 9:62). So she chose the more difficult but more faith-filled option: “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God” (v. 16).

Naomi’s offer to release her two Moabite daughters-in-law from their family obligations to her as a widow was logical and generous in one sense, but also bitter and self-pitying. “The LORD ’s hand has turned against me!” she lamented (v. 13). Even when she arrived back home, she complained, “The Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty” (vv. 20–21).

God, though, had remembered Naomi by providing Ruth to come with her, just as He would later remember Ruth’s need for a husband and provide Boaz. Ruth’s character quickly earned a positive reputation in Bethlehem, and she became an ancestor of the Messiah (Matt. 1:5).

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“I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” is one of my favorite choruses. The title statement is firm and filled with faith. “No turning back, no turning back.” For me, the highlight is the uncompromising third verse: “Though none go with me, still I will follow… No turning back, no turning back.”

I have always associated this song with Joshua and Caleb. Out of 12 spies, the majority recommended against obeying God and entering Canaan. Their evidence and arguments sounded rational: The enemy had stronger armies, fortified cities, and physically impressive warriors (13:27–29, 31–33).

But disobeying God is always the foolish choice. That’s why Joshua and Caleb urged the people to obey and move forward (13:30; 14:6–9). How did they frame their counterargument? First, based on God’s commands, and second, on His promises. God had already promised success—the land would be theirs. It made no difference how powerful the enemy was.

When the feelings and choices of the majority oppose God’s commands and promises, they’re part of the temptation to be resisted. The majority was responding in fear, whereas Caleb and Joshua spoke in faith. The majority was so afraid that they absurdly thought they’d be better off dead or returning to slavery (14:2–3). Faith, by contrast, often swims against the mainstream. This is why Joshua and Caleb boldly proclaimed: “Do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us” (14:9). “We will devour them” is literally “they are bread for us,” or reframed for today, “we’ll eat them for lunch because God is with us.”

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We’re good at rationalizing, aren’t we? It’s so easy to make fear or doubt sound like prudence or being careful. “God knows my strengths and abilities—He wouldn’t ask me to step out in faith in an area of weakness, would He?”

God goes against human expectations in many ways, as Moses discovered in today’s reading. As you’ve doubtless noticed, in our devotional study of strategies for fighting temptation, we’ve looked at some negative examples. We can also learn from people who experienced temptation, but they also resisted and obeyed.

Moses told God that he wasn’t a good leader and not suited for what God had called him to do (v. 11). He would rather remain in a safe place. But God wanted him to do the humanly impossible task of freeing the Israelites from four centuries of slavery to Egypt and taking them to a promised homeland (vv. 7–10).

Moses felt unworthy (v. 11). And he was right! God hadn’t chosen him for his personal awesomeness. The key to his success would be God’s presence and promises (v. 12). Moses also felt fearful for both spoken and unspoken reasons. Forty years had passed, but perhaps he was still wanted for murder. Perhaps he was afraid he was too old for this at age 80. How could he defeat one of the world superpowers of the day? And would the Israelites even listen to or follow him? This is the question behind the name question in verse 13 (see Ex. 4:1). In addition, he had no confidence in his public speaking ability (Ex. 4:10).

The bottom line? He didn’t want to go. “Please send someone else” (Ex. 4:13). But in the end, he trusted God’s answers, resisted the temptation to quit, and instead stepped out in faith.

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In Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress (see Day 9), Christian and Faithful one day entered Vanity Fair, a place of many worldly temptations. Offended by their unwillingness to participate, the townspeople threw the pair into prison. They held a mock trial and condemned them to death. Although God allowed Christian to escape, Faithful was tortured and burned at the stake, entering heaven as an honored martyr.

Even when the price is high, we must obey God. Many Bible stories illustrate this principle, including Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac and Daniel in the lions’ den. Noah teaches us this lesson as well. His extreme obedience was rooted in his righteous character and godly lifestyle (v. 9). He lived in stark contrast to the world around him (vv. 11–12).

When God commanded him to build the Ark, Noah may have been tempted to disobey or at least obey halfheartedly. The task appeared ludicrous. The huge size of the boat was bad enough (vv. 14–16). The assertion that the whole earth would be flooded and all life would perish seemed absurd (v. 17). The idea that only Noah and his family, accompanied by pairs of animals, would survive seemed like delusions of grandeur (vv. 18–21). Nonetheless, “Noah did everything just as God commanded him” (v. 22).

How long did it take to build the Ark? Scholars suggest about 75 years, given the ages and births recorded in the genealogies. For example, Ham had not even been born yet when God gave this command to Noah. Over the years, there would have been many opportunities for Noah to leave the path of obedience, but he persisted in faith (Heb. 11:7). Through words and deeds, he preached a message of judgment and righteousness to the world around him (2 Peter 2:5).

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The book of Proverbs warns us to avoid pride: “Pride brings a person low” (29:23) and “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (16:18). These are serious warnings, but this one is the most grim: “The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished” (16:5).

Ananias and Sapphira illustrate this truth. They were tempted to lie about the price of the land they had sold and thus the nature of their gift to the church. Why? Pride. They wanted to be praised for their generosity. They’d missed the point of the early church sharing resources and giving to those in need for the sake of the gospel (Acts 4:34–37). They’d also missed the point of giving as an act of worship to the Lord (Matt 6:1–4).

The two conspired to hold back some of the money and lie about it. Their sin was public and deliberate. Peter went so far as to say that Ananias’s heart was filled or controlled by Satan (5:3–4). The couple’s pride, dishonesty, and lack of generosity cost them their lives (vv. 5, 9). The early believers needed to learn that they were not playing a social game. The “great fear” that “seized the whole church” (vv. 5, 11) was a valid “fear of the Lord,” indicating a proper respect and reverence for His glory. Verse 11 is actually the first occurrence of ekklesia (“congregation” or “church”) in the Book of Acts.

We can try to fake generosity or worship, but God knows our hearts. When we are tempted to treat these matters lightly, the story of Ananias and Sapphira should warn us away from pride and toward proper humility before the Lord and others.

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