With: Temptations

Behavioral psychologists like BF Skinner have given us a picture of how a temptation becomes a habit. A stimulus presents itself, followed by a response, and then a reward. The nature of the reward (Negative, Positive, or Neutral) determines how we respond the next time we encounter the same stimulus. Regardless of the long-term effects, the more consistent and/or powerful the positive reward, the more likely our response becomes a habit (or addiction). It's at the response stage that we have the decision to make. Is the reward worth the response?

Dealing with teenagers we often have to help them think through the long-term effects of decisions they are making right now. The habits they form now will stick with them the rest of their lives, for better or worse.

It is helpful for me to remember that Jesus encountered temptations like we did and gives us a model for how to deal with them. As we deal with Matthew 4:1-11 this time, we'll deal less with the content of the temptations and more with the fact of them. Here are some points you can talk about with your teen:

• Jesus encountered temptation as we do, but never gave in. 

• Jesus was tempted at a point of great physical weakness.

• Jesus responded to temptation with Scripture.

• Jesus was supported by angels. 

Hebrews 3:13 tells us to encourage each other day after day, as long as it is still called "today", so that we might not be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. We are each other's help, and we should be the kind of people our friends can trust to come alongside them when they are weak!

This is how we can overcome temptation in our lives!