How can I avoid being seduced into doing wrong?

Genesis 39:10She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible.

Romans 13:13-14Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

If someone is trying to seduce you, stay away from that person as much as possible! Don’t put yourself in temptation’s way or you may be run over.

Genesis 39:11-12One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work. She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.

Proverbs 5:7-8So now, my sons, listen to me. Never stray from what I am about to say: Stay away from her! Don’t go near the door of her house!

1 Timothy 6:11You, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

2 Timothy 2:22Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

Run away from temptation as fast as you can! Sometimes you need to do more than ignore the situation; you must remove yourself from it.

Proverbs 4:23Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Don’t let yourself become emotionally intimate with anyone of the opposite sex other than your spouse. Begin by acknowledging that if you put yourself in certain situations you will be tempted. Ask others to help you avoid those situations.

1 John 2:26I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray.

Study Scripture in order to keep from being seduced by those who teach falsehoods. When you know the truth, you may not always be able to tell why the false is false, but you will still recognize it as false.

1 Kings 11:1-3Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. . . . The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, “You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.” Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord.

Behind every seduction is a temptation to sin, and behind every temptation is a direct violation of a truth found in the Bible. Satan wants to seduce us into seeing sin as lovely and attractive and fun. Sin is so seductive because, at the time, it is almost always pleasurable. The Old Testament was clear that God’s people should not marry foreigners who worshiped others gods because they would be seduced into worshiping idols. It was also clear that marriage was reserved for one man and one woman. But Solomon couldn’t overcome the seduction of these beautiful women and the political alliances they secured. He was seduced by lust, pleasure, and power, and soon this choked out his character, integrity, and reputation. Beg God for the power not to give temptation a second look, for that is when the power of seduction becomes strong.

Judges 16:15-17Then Delilah pouted, “How can you tell me, ‘I love you,’ when you don’t share your secrets with me? . . . She tormented him with her nagging day after day until he was sick to death of it. Finally, Samson shared his secret with her.

Romans 6:12Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.

1 Corinthians 10:13The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

3 John 1:11Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good.

In the Old Testament book of Judges, we find the story of Samson, the strongest man on earth. The crafty Philistines, Samson’s enemy, knew they couldn’t match Samson’s brute strength, so they aimed at his weakness—his inability to stay away from seductive women. His story is a vivid illustration of truths found throughout Scripture. Temptation always strikes us where we are weak, not where we are strong. Our weak spots are those areas we refuse to give over to God. They are cracks in our spiritual armor at which the enemy takes aim, the areas in which we compromise our convictions and are seduced for a few moments of pleasure. In those areas of weakness, we must ask God to cover our weaknesses with his strengths. We need to understand our weaknesses so we can protect ourselves from Satan’s attacks.