BROADCASTS.com

READ: DANIEL 1:8-15; 1 CORINTHIANS 10:13; 2 CORINTHIANS 4:6-10\n\n\n\nHave you ever used a pressure canner? It looks like a large pot with a lid that clamps on securely. When you can food at home, you put the beans or corn or whatever you\u2019re trying to preserve into glass jars, then place the jars in the pressure canner along with some water. As the canner is heated up, the heat causes pressure to build up inside, which cooks and preserves the food in the jars, and it also seals the jars. When they\u2019re done, the canned food can be stored for a year or more, and it won\u2019t spoil. But sometimes, while the canner is still building up pressure, you might hear a loud CRACK! If one of the glass jars had a weak spot, the pressure inside the canner could cause it to break. It couldn\u2019t handle the pressure.\n\n\n\nDo you ever feel like a jar that can\u2019t handle the pressure? There\u2019s pressure everywhere! People might try to get us to do things we know are wrong, and if we don\u2019t, they might make us feel like we\u2019re the one who\u2019s wrong. Being under that kind of pressure is exhausting.\n\n\n\nBut pressure can work two ways, like in the pressure cooker. It cooks the food and keeps it from spoiling, but sometimes it makes a jar crack. Pressure in our lives can work that way too. God often uses pressure to preserve us by reminding us we belong to Jesus and He is with us, helping us. But sometimes when we\u2019re under pressure, we crack and give in to temptation.\n\n\n\nThe truth is, we all have weak spots that are prone to cracking, but once we know Jesus, we also have the power of God\u2019s Spirit to help us. He\u2019ll give us strength even when we\u2019re tempted to do things that we know go against God\u2019s good ways. When we feel that pressure, God welcomes us to come to Him and tell Him about it. We can ask for His help, and He will sustain us. The Holy Spirit reminds us of God\u2019s truth and gives us the strength we need to do what\u2019s right\u2014and even if we do give in under pressure, God will forgive us so we can start over. It can be hard not to give in to the pressure to go along with what everyone else seems to be doing. But in every temptation, He is with us, ready to help us stand firm so we don\u2019t crack. \u2022 A. W. Smith\n\n\n\n\u2022 When do you feel the most pressured? In times like these, how could it be helpful to remember that we belong to Jesus and we have His Spirit in us? Remember, we can always talk to God, and we can also share our struggles with trusted Christians. What are some ways we can help each other resist temptation, and also remind each other of Jesus\u2019s love and forgiveness when we fail?\n\n\n\nThe Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. 2 Timothy 4:18 (NIV)